Consumption at what cost? Neighbourhood complexity and heat hazard

Abstract

Urban heat hazards are unevenly distributed across cities, yet their relationship with the geography of urban consumption remains poorly understood. In this study, we propose a relational reading of urban heat hazard, arguing that thermal exposure is shaped not only by residential surroundings but also by the characteristics of urban destinations. We measure the attractiveness of places using a Neighbourhood Complexity measure, which captures the structural diversity and specialisation of local urban economies, and relate it to pedestrian heat hazard in Milan. We characterise neighbourhood thermal environments to capture the intensity, mitigation and internal heterogeneity of local heat conditions. Results reveal a tension between urban vitality and heat hazard: highly complex neighbourhoods concentrate both destination mobility and elevated thermal hazard, while also offering greater opportunities for passive mitigation through urban form.