Over three quarters of Europe’s population live in cities and are particularly likely to feel the effects of climate change. A new European Environment Agency report, ‘Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe’, is the first Europe-wide assessment of urban vulnerability to climate change. Due to higher levels of artificial surfaces and lower levels of vegetation, the report’s authors argue that urban areas experience higher temperatures than rural areas, creating ‘urban heat islands’ that exacerbate the effects of heat waves. The report stresses that for urban adaptation action to be effective policy-makers at local, national and European level will need to work together to create the right conditions and frameworks. More