The atmosphere, the envelope of gases surrounding Earth, plays a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The health of our atmosphere is directly addressed by SDG 13 (Climate Action), which seeks to combat climate change and its impacts, largely driven by greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. It also ties to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as air quality directly influences human health, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which encourages improvements in urban air quality. The atmosphere also plays a crucial role in SDGs 14 and 15 (Life Below Water and Life on Land), as changes in atmospheric conditions can influence weather patterns and harm biodiversity. Hence, maintaining atmospheric health is indispensable for sustainable development.
The elevated air temperature of a city, urban heat island (UHI), increases the heat and pollution-related mortality, reduces the habitats' comfort and elevates the mean and peak energy demand of buildings. To countermeasure this unwanted phenomenon, a series of strategies and policies have been proposed and adapted to the cities. Various types of models are developed to evaluate the effectiveness of such strategies in addition to predict the UHI. This paper explains the compatibility of each type of model suitable for various objectives and scales of UHI studies.
