Importance of Heat-Health Warning Systems and Heat-Health Action Plans for Cities and Their Residents

Andreas Matzarakis

University of Freiburg

Abstract

Human biometeorology examines how the atmospheric environment affects people — not only long-term anthropogenic climate change, but also extreme meteorological episodes such as heat waves, and long-term structural factors such as the design of urban neighbourhoods and green spaces. Because heat risk emerges from the interaction of atmosphere, city structure, building stock, and the people living inside it, addressing it credibly requires methods that go beyond single meteorological variables such as air temperature, and an interdisciplinary approach spanning meteorology, urban planning, public health, and emergency management.

Bio

Andreas Matzarakis is Professor of Environmental Meteorology at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where he has researched the links between weather, climate, and human health for more than 30 years. Until 2024 he headed the German Weather Service's (DWD) Centre for Mhman-Biometeorological Research in Freiburg. His work focuses on human biometeorology, thermal comfort indices (PET, UTCI), heat stress assessment, urban climatology, and the health impacts of climate extremes, with applications ranging from heat-health warning systems to climate-sensitive urban planning and tourism.