Green CURe In Overheated CITY spaces: An investigation of childhood heat-related health impacts and protective effects of urban natural environments.

Green CURIOCITY: As a consequence of climate change, the European climate is getting warmer and the impact on childhood health and development is insufficiently understood. Equally, the potential to reduce heat related health risks through nature based solutions (NBS), such as exposure to urban natural environments (for example urban green spaces), calls for further investigation. Green CURIOCITY aims to provide evidence for improved knowledge about how heat exposure during pregnancy affects birth outcomes and how long-term exposure to heat may influence children’s neurodevelopment. The project will also investigate how adverse effects can be prevented through a potentially mitigating impact of urban natural environments in the context of NBS. Green CURIOCITY has a strong impact and implementation component, both by proposing to develop vulnerability maps, demonstrating urban “hot-spots” where the risk of negative impacts of heat is aggravated due to specific socio-demographic and land use patterns and by the development of a plugin tool for a Geographic Information System software to predict impact of urban natural environments on childhood heat-related health outcomes in partnership with WHO. The suggested methods include advanced statistical and geospatial analyses in combination with map production and software development. We will use existing data from the Human Early-Life Exposure (HELIX) cohort and link to state-of-the-art environmental exposure data to assess impact on birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The results are expected to be of high relevance and impact due to the project’s alignment with contemporary urgent challenges related to climate change, urban landscapes, and the health of future generations. In particular, the project’s focus on solutions and communication tools will provide opportunities for innovative evidence-based implementation strategies.