Taking the idea of telling a story through place one step further, the next storytelling method Once Upon a Time in a Heatwave took the form of a walking tour through Belfast.
Recent research independently at the University of Bristol and the UK Met Office both created new mapping results of heat risk and vulnerability in Belfast. The walking tour took to the streets with a group of stakeholders from the Public Health Agency, Housing Executive, Belfast Healthy Cities and Department of Health to see how these mapping products compare with reality in Belfast.
Stops on the tour told the story of heat vulnerability: what builds resilience or what enhances risks, walking a transect of low to high risk. At each stop, some specific details and data about the current electoral ward area, the temperature amplification effect of the urban heat island and different potential heat adaptation measures were discussed.
In between stops, there was plenty of opportunities to question and discuss ideas further, and get feedback on the research work from the stakeholders. The tour ended at the recently opened 2 Royal Avenue building, where a workshop was held with the same group of stakeholders, plus a few extras, to map out how and where climate data such as the heat risk maps can be used to feed into decision making. This was done on two themes: health & communities and the built environment & infrastructure. After the workshop, visual notes were drawn up showing with weather symbols where climate data can be used.
Feedback on this activity was positive and there are plans to run the event again in the future. Interested in learning more? Leave a comment and let’s talk.