Unintended climate trade-off: Clean air policies intensify urban heat island in humid cities, study finds

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have uncovered a critical, underrecognized trade-off in global environmental policies: While essential for improving public health, large-scale air pollution reductions are unintentionally intensifying warm-season surface urban heat islands (UHI) in humid climates. Published in Nature Cities, the findings highlight the urgent need for integrated policies that address both air quality and urban heat adaptation, particularly in rapidly urbanizing, humid regions.