ASTM WK95551
New Guide for Nature Based Solutions for Urban Heat
1. Scope
This guide provides technical and climate-responsive design considerations for deploying NBS across multiple urban scale, from building sites to neighborhoods and cities. It includes: • Urban forestry and tree canopy expansion • Vegetated systems such as, ground cover, bioswales, and rain gardens • Green roofs, green walls, and living infrastructure • Passive water-based systems (ponds, fountains, and constructed wetlands) • Use of cool and reflective surfaces, (high-albedo pavements/roofs/walls) • Permeable surfaces and hybrid green-blue infrastructure • Emerging interventions such as micro-forests and eco-corridors The guide also addresses broader co-benefits such as as improved air quality, stormwater regulation, biodiversity, and enhanced public health. It supports decision-makers, planners, designers, and infrastructure managers in evaluating, selecting, and implementing appropriate NBS approaches to reduce urban heat exposure and promote thermally comfortable environments.Keywords
nature based solutions; urban heat; mitigation; risk management and reduction;Rationale
This guide will establish a comprehensive framework for the planning, selection, and implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) aimed at mitigating urban heat exposure. It outlines voluntary, evidence-based strategies that integrate vegetation, water, and landscape features into the built environment to lower ambient temperatures and promote thermal comfort. Urban heat is an escalating threat to public health, infrastructure, and city livability. With heat now the leading weather-related cause of death in North America, there is an urgent need for structured guidance on how nature-based approaches can reduce exposure to extreme temperatures. This guide will provide a consistent framework to support planning and investment in NBS, especially in urban areas that face climate vulnerabilities. Users may include: • Urban planners and city engineers • Landscape architects and building professionals • Public health and emergency services • Housing developers and infrastructure managers • Municipal, state, provincial, and federal agencies
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 07-01-2025
Technical Contact: Cynthia Annett
Item: 000
Ballot:
Status: