Challenges created by the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Heat reduction through nature-based solutions in Vienna and Budapest

Dense and urbanized European capitals under the Austro-Hungarian empire were developed at the end of the 19th century. In both Vienna (Austria) and Budapest (Hungary), the historic city defense structures were developed into dense, prestigious housing areas with at least four stories. While important cultural heritage, many historically built-up areas are now a challenge for heat reduction and urban planning. In Central Europe, nature-based solutions are being eyed as measures to tackle urban heat islands and the unequal distribution of green areas across cities. In Vienna and Budapest, the local populations are facing growing climate change impacts in the form of heatwaves and tropical nights, which are expected to negatively affect health and wellbeing.
Combining the results of urban heat modelling with the results of a survey with an integrated discrete choice experiment conducted in Budapest and Vienna, this study investigated which geographical parts of the cities are more affected than others, which citizens are the most vulnerable and how they perceive their own affectedness. By combining data on actual and perceived impacts of the temperature, urban areas are identified which are in greater need of nature-based solutions. By identifying the residents of these areas, vulnerable social groups requiring city administration’s attention and support are identified and policy recommendations are given.
In both Budapest and Vienna heat is felt more intensely and impacts health to a greater extent in neighborhoods with limited access to and poor-quality green areas, while neighborhoods with ample access to public and private green areas are not as strongly impacted by high temperatures. However, residents of Budapest stated to have more experience with heat waves and respondents indicated much higher rates of heat negatively effecting both their wellbeing and their health. This feeling was not confirmed by the heat models – meaning that the difference between perceived heat and actual temperatures is higher in Budapest.
For urban planners the results of this study translate into setting clear planning priorities and goals specific to their residents’ needs: To gain the greatest possible benefits for residents and reduce urban heat island effects, nature-based solutions targeting heat reduction should be placed in neighborhoods which demonstrate high heat perception based on social analysis and heat modeling. By using this approach, planners will address both climate change and its impacts on the population in urban environments.