Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 106813 |
| Journal | Sustainable cities and society |
| Volume | 132 |
| Early online date | 12 Sept 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Sept 2025 |
Abstract
Keywords
- Aging society, Cumulative heat exposure, Heat exposure, Socio-demographic disparities, Switzerland, Urban climate vulnerability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Engineering(all)
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Social Sciences(all)
- Transportation
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Sustainable cities and society, Vol. 132, 106813, 15.09.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Socio-demographic disparities of heat exposure in affluent, aging, and diverse Swiss society
AU - Chang, Yuyang
AU - Manoli, Gabriele
AU - Ghazoul, Jaboury
AU - Kleinschroth, Fritz
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025/9/15
Y1 - 2025/9/15
N2 - As climate change intensifies, disparities in people’s heat exposure are emerging as a critical public health concern, including in wealthy countries like Switzerland. This study investigates spatial and socio-demographic differences in outdoor heat exposure across 1625 Swiss municipalities, using satellite data and predicted air temperature data within a multi-dimensional heat exposure framework encompassing a composite heat exposure index (CHEI) combining heat intensity, heatwave duration, and historical heatwave probability. Using stepwise weighted least squares (WLS) regression models, we first model socio-demographic predictors, then add topography, and finally incorporate urban-form variables to assess heat exposure disparities associated with economic status, age structure, immigration background, social assistance, and living conditions. We further use geographically weighted regression (GWR) to capture spatial heterogeneity and classify municipalities as overexposed, underexposed, or showing no significant disparity. Our findings reveal that high-income municipalities tend to experience higher heat exposure. At the same time, municipalities with larger shares of non-EU foreigners and residents receiving social assistance are also more exposed than others, underscoring the intersection of heat risk with socially marginalized and affluent communities in larger cities. Yet many of these associations weaken after controlling for elevation and urbanization, highlighting the critical role of physical geography in the Swiss context. For age structure, regression models suggest weak or negative associations between elderly concentration and heat exposure after accounting for physical factors; however, quartile analyses reveal that municipalities with higher shares of residents aged over 80 still face higher exposure in certain regions. Our findings emphasize the need to address socio-demographic heat disparities in affluent societies with diverse population structures, large aging population, where topography and degree of urbanisation can amplify local heat burdens. Integrating social vulnerability with geographic and morphological drivers is therefore essential for designing targeted adaptation measures and reducing unequal heat risks.
AB - As climate change intensifies, disparities in people’s heat exposure are emerging as a critical public health concern, including in wealthy countries like Switzerland. This study investigates spatial and socio-demographic differences in outdoor heat exposure across 1625 Swiss municipalities, using satellite data and predicted air temperature data within a multi-dimensional heat exposure framework encompassing a composite heat exposure index (CHEI) combining heat intensity, heatwave duration, and historical heatwave probability. Using stepwise weighted least squares (WLS) regression models, we first model socio-demographic predictors, then add topography, and finally incorporate urban-form variables to assess heat exposure disparities associated with economic status, age structure, immigration background, social assistance, and living conditions. We further use geographically weighted regression (GWR) to capture spatial heterogeneity and classify municipalities as overexposed, underexposed, or showing no significant disparity. Our findings reveal that high-income municipalities tend to experience higher heat exposure. At the same time, municipalities with larger shares of non-EU foreigners and residents receiving social assistance are also more exposed than others, underscoring the intersection of heat risk with socially marginalized and affluent communities in larger cities. Yet many of these associations weaken after controlling for elevation and urbanization, highlighting the critical role of physical geography in the Swiss context. For age structure, regression models suggest weak or negative associations between elderly concentration and heat exposure after accounting for physical factors; however, quartile analyses reveal that municipalities with higher shares of residents aged over 80 still face higher exposure in certain regions. Our findings emphasize the need to address socio-demographic heat disparities in affluent societies with diverse population structures, large aging population, where topography and degree of urbanisation can amplify local heat burdens. Integrating social vulnerability with geographic and morphological drivers is therefore essential for designing targeted adaptation measures and reducing unequal heat risks.
KW - Aging society
KW - Cumulative heat exposure
KW - Heat exposure
KW - Socio-demographic disparities
KW - Switzerland
KW - Urban climate vulnerability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105016307269&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scs.2025.106813
DO - 10.1016/j.scs.2025.106813
M3 - Article
VL - 132
JO - Sustainable cities and society
JF - Sustainable cities and society
SN - 2210-6707
M1 - 106813
ER -