International Journal of
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Review Article Volume 10 Issue 1
Climate change and temperate cities: the impact of extreme events on urban areas
Federico Ferrelli, Andrea Soledad Brendel, Paula Eugenia López, María Luján Bustos
Received: December 09, 2025 | Published: January 16, 2026
Citation: Ferrelli F, Brendel AS, López PE, et al. Climate change and temperate cities: the impact of extreme events on urban areas. Int J Hydro. 2026;10(1):14-29. DOI: 10.15406/ijh.2026.10.00421
Abstract
Temperate cities, traditionally perceived as climatically moderate and relatively resilient, are increasingly exposed to the multifaceted impacts of climate change. This review synthesizes recent scientific literature to examine how extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, intense rainfall, cold spells, droughts, and urban flooding, are reshaping urban systems across temperate regions worldwide. The analysis explores impacts on critical infrastructure, ecosystem services, public health, and socioeconomic conditions, highlighting how these effects are often amplified by urbanization patterns and climatesensitive design deficiencies. Particular attention is given to disparities in vulnerability and adaptive capacity among cities of different sizes, governance contexts, and across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The review emphasizes emerging adaptation strategies, including nature-based solutions, green–blue infrastructure, and climateresponsive urban planning, assessing their effectiveness and co-benefits for mitigation, health, and social well-being. At the same time, it discusses practical challenges for implementation, such as maintenance requirements, resource limitations, and institutional barriers. Finally, key knowledge gaps and methodological limitations are identified, including the scarcity of high-resolution urban climate data, limited long-term evaluations of adaptation measures, and the underrepresentation of equity, governance, and social justice dimensions in current research. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need for integrative, interdisciplinary, and equity-oriented approaches to enhance climate resilience in temperate urban environments under accelerating climate change.
Keywords: climate adaptation, temperate cities, urban resilience, extreme weather events, urban heat island
©2026 Ferrelli, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.