Louise McKenzie

Climate, public space and public health: the influence of heat on the use of public space and implications for public health, a Western
Sydney case study

Climate, public space and public health: the influence of heat on the use
of public space and implications for public health, a Western Sydney
case study
Louise McKenzie

Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
email: refshaug@tpg.com.au

Introduction

The use of outdoor public space is important for human health and key to healthy planning and urban design
strategies focused on integrating physical activity, social interaction and connections with nature back into
urban lifestyles. This study focuses on the use of outdoor space, and the related influence of climatic
conditions on health and well-being, especially urban and global warming. There is limited research exploring
the relationship between heat, use of public space and human health; and, as yet, healthy planning strategies
give marginal consideration to climatic influences. Climate change scenarios anticipated include significant
increases in temperature and frequency of extreme heat events, with associated increases in air pollution.
Importantly, the Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report states that ‘an
increase in heat-related deaths in temperate cities is one of the most significant health impacts of climate
change for Australia’ (Hennessy et al., 2007). These scenarios have serious implications for the design,
planning in general and use of public space specifically.
Existing studies of thermal comfort, outdoor environments and use are few (Westerberg et al., 2003). They
identify complex interrelationships between use and physical parameters, emotion and perceptions. Findings
are location-specific due to differing physical, social and cultural environments (Nikolopoulou et al., 2005;
Thorsson and Knez, 2006).
Studies investigating the climate sensitivity of human health are concerned with mortality data, reflecting only
extremes. However, the thermal environment also impacts on morbidity and the ‘well-being and efficiency of
healthy people’, presenting an area for further investigation relevant to public health (Laschewski et al.,
2002).
This study investigates the effect of heat on people’s use of outdoor public space in Western Sydney and
implications for public health. It extends the scope of existing studies by focusing on the impacts on physical
activity, social interaction and connection with nature and aims to better understand the adaptive capacity of
local communities and thus reflect on both healthy planning strategies and climate change adaptation plans.
Public space and public health
Outdoor public spaces contribute significantly to public health (CPAH, 2007; Chau, 2007). Crucially, with the
increased prevalence of non-communicable conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiac disease and mental
illness, public spaces conducive to physical activity and social interaction, with integrated natural elements,
are ever more important. Healthy planning strategies do focus on creating environments supportive of active,
healthy lifestyles and community interaction, yet with limited consideration of climatic influences on people’s
use of public spaces (Australian Local Government Association, 2008). Metropolitan plans setting strategic
frameworks for cities also give limited consideration to the way climate affects liveability and population
health (Coutts et al., 2007; Coutts et al., 2006; NSW Department of Planning, 2005).
Heat and public health
Heat-health impacts include direct heat exposure, extreme heat events and air pollution (Kjellstrom and
Weaver, 2009). Higher temperatures may also increase pollen quantities and allergenicity with increases in
asthma (Beggs and Bambrick, 2005). Health warnings for heat events and high levels of air pollution and
pollen recommend at-risk groups stay indoors or restrict outdoor activity to early morning, possibly
influencing public space use. Simultaneously, uncomfortable and unhealthy outdoor and urban climates
generate a greater reliance on climate-controlled interiors, diminishing the potential contribution of outdoor

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public space use to urban population health (Australian Government Department of Climate Change, 2009;
Capon, 2009).
Heat-health impacts are exacerbated by ageing and non-communicable conditions that reduce the capacity to
regulate thermal systems and adapt to heat stress and extreme heat events. This has important implications for
the use and design of public spaces. Therefore approaches to climate –conscious design must consider the
differing needs of a diverse community. Currently, some urban design tools consider human comfort through
material selection, use of vegetation, urban geometry and shade provision (Givoni, 1998). However,
consideration of climate in urban design is limited due to poor interdisciplinary connections (Ali-Toudert and
Mayer, 2008).

Methodologies

This study is a six-year longitudinal investigation of outdoor activity in the main public park in Cabramatta,
Western Sydney. Four years have been conducted.
The initial methodology was based on existing studies, incorporating on-site meteorological measurements
and behavioural mapping conducted at annual, seasonal and daily intervals, and focused on summer months
and extreme heat events. Fieldwork identified user groups and use patterns for days, seasons and weather
conditions; and surrounding land-use evaluation revealed several generators of use patterns, such as school
programs.
Meteorological and observational variables specific to heat-health impacts were later incorporated, including
variables identified in heat-hospitalisation research (Vaneckova et al., 2006) and health warning
recommendations regarding physical activity in outdoor environments during heat events and periods of high
air pollution and pollen. The researcher’s personal thermal comfort and perceptions of weather have been
recorded throughout.
It is intended to distribute a questionnaire to community groups and park users, exploring the ways in which
climate influences people’s decisions to use the park and the meaning of the park in their everyday lives.
Contextual characteristics relevant to community heat-adaptive capacity include: high levels of disadvantage
and non-communicable conditions; poor quality housing; low socio-economic status and provision of private
and public open space; and an exacerbated regional urban heat island effect compared with metropolitan
Sydney (Scott, 2008; Larsen, 2007; Greening Australia, 2007).

Discussion

Literature review and fieldwork data collected over four years begin to suggest a strong rationale for
prioritising heat considerations in healthy planning strategies and adaptation plans. Identified patterns of use
and behaviour confirm that climate and human comfort preference have important influences on the use of
outdoor areas. Observations suggest a divergence between health warning recommendations and patterns of
use and behaviour. Observed decreases in use during heat events suggest some link will emerge between heat-
public space use and public health, exacerbating the existing trends. If outdoor physical activity patterns
change rather than decrease, this will have implications for community programs and services, commercial
activities, and planning and urban design generically.

Conclusion

This research will contribute to the international perspective of existing studies by exploring the public health
implications of a warming climate related to public space use in Western Sydney. Greater resilience to the
impacts of climate change on local populations is the ultimate aim, informing healthy planning strategies and
climate change adaptation plans.

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 Louise McKenzie
Climate, public space and public health: the influence of heat on the use of public space and implications for public health, a Western
Sydney case study
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