The Future of Nature-Based Recreation in Warming Tropical Cities

How can cities ensure that people continue to enjoy the benefits of urban nature in an increasingly warming world?

A new paper co-authored by Professor Winston Chow (Research Pillar Lead, Urban Systems, SMU Urban Institute) and colleagues examines how rising heat and humidity may affect nature-based recreation in tropical cities.

Published in npj Urban Sustainability, the study argues that greening alone is not sufficient. Instead, cities will need “heat-smart” approaches that integrate climate-sensitive urban planning with shade and cooling infrastructure, heat-health advisories, and a deeper understanding of how people adapt their behaviour in hotter environments.

The findings highlight a key challenge for tropical cities: balancing the physical, mental, and social benefits of urban nature with increasing risks associated with heat exposure.

The study also identifies important future research opportunities at the intersection of climate, health, behaviour, and urban planning, particularly in rapidly urbanising and warming contexts.

This research was conducted under Cooling Singapore 2.0 Work Package B: Urban Climate Risks and Benefits, led by Singapore Management University in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University Singapore, and supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore.