By Maltiti Sayida Saddick and Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at the Cape Coast Technical University, Professor Emmanuel Bamfo-Adjei has raised alarm on the impact climate change is having in tropical regions leading to extreme urban heat.
According to him, since West Africa is rapidly urbanizing and by 2030, over half of West Africa’s population will live in cities, there is a critical need to understand physical drivers of urban heat to develop monitoring and
mitigation strategies.
Speaking at the EELL 2025 Canada Conference in conjunction with the Pan African Centre for Climate Policy, Mr. Bamfo-Adjei explained that urban heat refers to the phenomenon where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their surrounding rural regions, primarily due to human activities and modifications to the natural landscape. This effect is widely known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect.
He highlighted the Impacts urban heat has on the environment listing
heat strokes and cardiovascular issues.
He added that it leads to the increased use of air conditioning leading to greater electricity demand and carbon emissions.
“Higher evaporation rates and increased demand for cooling water puts pressure on water resources”.
Addressing the causes of urban heat in cities, Mr. Bamfo-Adjei mentioned that Concrete and Asphalt, buildings and roads alter surface radiation and energy balance.
He also mentioned that lack of vegetation has reduced
shading from trees and evapotranspiration, which are natural cooling processes as well as heat emissions from vehicles, air conditioning, and industrial processes also add to urban temperatures.
High-rise buildings and narrow streets can also trap heat according to him, thereby reducing air circulation and increasing localised warming.
Mr. Bamfo-Adjei further suggested solutions to reduce urban heat citing the planting of trees and implementation of green roofs which can lower urban temperatures through shade and evapotranspiration.
He added that a certified building that uses 20% less energy, water and embodied energy in materials is necessary.
Designing cities with wider streets, improved airflow, and green corridors can enhance cooling effects as well.
