Cooling the City: Thermal Justice as Mental Health Equity
Season 2 Episode: 5. May 26, 2026.
Establishes thermal wellbeing as a mental health and climate justice issue, guiding our design of cooling infrastructure that protects the most vulnerable from extreme heat.
Summary: Reframes urban heat as an intersectional crisis and warns that green infrastructure can trigger displacement (gentrification).
Connection: Features native tree canopies, water features, and misting stations while advocating for tenant protections to prevent climate gentrification.
Key Takeaways:
• Extreme urban heat is a mental health hazard, not merely physical discomfort
• Thermal comfort is fundamentally a matter of environmental justice
• Climate adaptation without housing protection leads to climate gentrification
• Vulnerable populations face compounded risks from heat and displacement
• Inclusive cooling design is necessary for mental health resilience in warming cities
• Participatory vulnerability assessments are essential for equitable climate adaptation
Keywords: Urban design, mental health, microclimates, thermal wellbeing, urban heat.
Keywords: Climate gentrification, urban heat, vulnerability index, Barcelona.
Source: Co-Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Gentrification in the Context of Urban Heat: A Participatory Index, Amalia Calderón-Argelich et al.
Source: Cityscapes, Climate, and Mental Health: Designing Cities for Thermal Wellbeing, Peter J. Crank and Paul Coseo
The Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.
