PhD Study : Cities conformity to the United Nations Paris Agreement: Climate-resilient development pathways through spatio-temporal assessment of urbanisation, urban heat islands, and local climate zones

Summary

Cities cover just 3 per cent of Earth’s land surface (United Nations, 2020) yet accommodate more than half the world’s population (United Nations Statistics Division, 2020). Serving as the backbone of economic growth, cities account for nearly 60 to 80 per cent of energy use and produce some 70 per cent of human-generated greenhouse gases in the world (UN Habitat, 2019). Climate change is one of the biggest challenges and its projections predict substantial impacts on cities and human development in future.

Around 90 per cent of urbanisation is expected to occur in Asia and Africa during the next 30 years. According to a United Nations (UN) estimate, 70 per cent of the world’s population will be living in urban settlements by 2050 (UN Habitat, 2019). The sustainable development goal (SDG) 11 of the UN highlights the importance of sustainable cities and communities (UN, 2020). The Paris Agreement approved and adopted by 197 countries in December 2015 at the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP 21, aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change by controlling the global temperature rise through reducing carbon emissions (UNFCCC, 2015).

Since urban areas account for an estimated 70 per cent of energy-related global emissions, it is thus essential to assess how well the cities or metropolitan areas have been performing over the past years towards achieving this goal. The heat produced as a by-product of higher energy consumption combined with the impervious surfaces in urban areas form Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) where the urban settlements are significantly warmer than its surrounding areas. UHIs can be used as one of the indicators to assess how efficiently energy is being consumed – the more efficient the use, the less heat wasted.

A Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification scheme developed by Stewart & Oke (2012) proposes 17 zones based on the properties of surface structure and surface cover, and offers a standardised method to observe UHIs. The World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) is one of the examples offering a consistent LCZ classification framework to characterise cities (Mills et al., 2015). Evaluating future scenarios is also important for the decision makers who would like to see the impacts of climate change on UHIs and LCZs.

The Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) take into account various assumptions about economic, social and physical changes to the environment that could influence climate change. The RCPs, within a set of scenarios, provides future projections on climate change that can help predict the corresponding impacts on UHIs and/or LCZs (Fallmann, Wagner, and Emeis 2017).

Geospatial technologies offer an array of remote sensing and GIS datasets and methods that can help assess UHIs and classify geographical areas according to LCZs. A long-term analysis of UHIs and LCZs can help evaluate: (1) the effects of urbanisation on UHIs and LCZs; and (2) the effectiveness of measures taken by large, medium, and small cities/regions in controlling heat waste over the past years.

This project aims to evaluate how effectively various cities from countries signing up to the Paris Agreement are performing to reduce their emissions, which will be assessed through spatio-temporal analysis of UHIs and LCZs. This project also aspires linking the spatio-temporal modelling with RCPs to establish policies, practices and theoretical understanding of climate-resilient urban development.

The objectives of this research are to employ remote sensing (satellite, airborne, ground-based, or a combination of any of these) and other spatial data in order to: (1) develop a robust model for spatio-temporal assessment of UHIs and LCZs at regional and/or city scales; (2) assess the spatio-temporal trends of UHIs and LCZs in selected regions/cities to gauge their success in reducing urban heat footprint; (3) predict the UHIs using various climate change scenarios (RCPs); and (4) propose measures to help achieve the targets of SDG11 in light of the research findings.

The outcomes of this project will inform the concerned stakeholders (cities, regions, and local authorities) about potential geographical areas needing further supportive actions to reduce heat waste. Further, the projected UHIs would assist decision / policy makers in understanding the performance (in terms of heat waste) of respective cities/regions under various climate change scenarios. The research will also feed development and improvement of geospatial methods to assess UHIs and classify the land area into LCZ categories.

The successful candidate is expected to acquire, process, and analyse geospatial data, particularly collected through optical and thermal sensors. The candidate will also review and analyse the UN’s SDGs relevant to the project, along with the IPCC climate change scenarios.

References will be requested for shortlisted candidates.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living