Samenvatting

WP1 focuses on the governance and planning side of urban heat adaptation. However, to create useful and realistic strategies, cities need to look at the full process, from governance and planning to design, implementation, monitoring, and improving over time. Each step builds on the previous one: •Governance defines who does what. •Planning identifies risks and sets priorities. •Design and implementation turn ideas into actions. •Monitoring and evaluating checks what works and what doesn’t. •Standardising helps cities compare, learn, and improve long-term. If any of these steps are missing, adaptation governance and planning can become unrealistic, disconnected from local needs, or hard to implement To support this process, AUAS developed a set of guiding research questions. These questions have been formulated based on experience in adaptation governance and planning, knowledge from climate adaptation research, and partner city input. Cities also gave feedback and voted on which questions matter most. The input from partner cities helps us improve the tools together and adapt them to what each city needs. In addition, some of the questions came directly from partner cities through meetings, bilateral sessions, and workshops. The guiding research questions support the development of three core tools: •the Local Context Summary Memo (LCSM) •the Cool Network Plan (CNP) •the Local Action Programme (LAP) The questions focus on important themes like strategy, equity, feasibility, and stakeholder involvement. They are designed to help cities think ahead—not only about analysis and planning, but also about what will be needed for action, delivery, and evaluation in the future. While the LCSM is the starting point, the same questions help shape the vision in the CNP and the priorities in the LAP. In this way, the questions connect all parts of WP1 and help ensure continuity across the full adaptation process. The LCSM is the first place where most of these questions are explored. It brings together local data on heat risk, exposure, vulnerable groups, local policies, and decision-making structures. It is developed through analysis, desk research, and co-creation sessions with cities. The questions guide what is included and make sure each LCSM reflects the local situation and provides a solid base for planning. As cities move into the CNP and LAP, the questions continue to guide the process, helping cities define priorities, identify cool spaces and routes, and choose where and how to act. Cities also vote on which questions matter most and give feedback. Purpose We use these questions for two main reasons: 1.To guide our research and collaboration. They help us understand how cities are approaching heat adaptation, from identifying risks to making decisions. This helps us improve the tools and focus on the right support. 2.To support cities now and in the future. The questions are also useful for other cities that will create their own LCSM, CNP, or LAP. They help guide planning by asking the right questions at the right time, such as who should be involved, what matters most, and where the risks are. Starting with these questions leads to better strategies that are more realistic and connected to the city’s actual conditions.