Researchers from the University of Coimbra explore solutions for cooler Mediterranean cities

COOL NOONS, a project coordinated by a research team from the University of Coimbra (UC), is currently underway in five pilot cities across Mediterranean Europe to improve the comfort of visitors and residents during the hottest hours of the day.

Lisbon is one of the case studies analysed in this project, where a pilot study is underway to test the so-called ‘cool paths’ — routes featuring gardens and shaded areas designed to provide residents and tourists with a more pleasant experience.

“As heatwaves become more extreme and frequent, cities face risks to tourism and urban quality of life, especially with regard to outdoor activities and leisure,” explains the UC research team, led by Ana Maria Caldeira, a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FLUC) and a researcher at the Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT).

According to the experts in tourism and physical geography, “it is crucial to study the thermal comfort of residents and visitors, particularly in the summer months, to implement effective cooling measures along the most frequently used urban routes during the hottest hours of the day, using innovative, nature-based solutions.”

In the Portuguese pilot study, the UC team has been collaborating with the Lisbon City Council both to study the impact of the “cool paths” selected by the municipality and to test cooling solutions soon to be launched in Alvalade and Monsanto. Thus, UC researchers have been monitoring data collection on the effects of air temperature on city visitors and the benefits of these “cool paths” for tourists and residents alike. They will later oversee the scientific evaluation of the potential benefits of the test interventions to be implemented.

The other four cities involved in the COOL NOONS project are Budva (Montenegro), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Imola (Italy) and Marseille (France), where work is also underway to identify and promote cooler routes. Measures being implemented include creating pedestrian-only areas, installing shade canopies, planting trees, placing sun-protected picnic tables and planters, and developing an augmented reality app — currently being tested at the Maritime Museum in Dubrovnik — to attract visitors to cooling areas and help reduce overcrowding at popular attractions during heatwaves.

The invitation to join this European project emerged from Ana Maria Caldeira’s doctoral research, during which she monitored the movements of hotel guests in Lisbon and found scientific evidence suggesting that higher maximum daily temperatures negatively impact participants' experience and satisfaction. Now, through the COOL NOONS project, “we have the opportunity to turn science into action by testing heatwave adaptation solutions for everyone living in or visiting these cities,” says the project coordinator in Portugal.

COOL NOONS is funded with over €1.8 million by the Interreg Euro-MED programme of the European Commission. It is led by the Agency for Sustainable Mediterranean Cities and Territories (Agence des Villes et Territoires Méditerranéens Durables) and brings together nine partners from five countries. The project will run until September 2026.

Other FLUC professors and CEGOT researchers involved in the project include Albano Figueiredo, Lúcio Cunha, Susana Silva, Rui Ferreira, and PhD student Courtney Schilling.

More information about the project is available at https://coolnoons.interreg-euro-med.eu/.