Urban Heat Inequality: Social Stratification, Policy Responses, and Health Implications
Climate change and rapid urbanization have significantly intensified urban heat exposure, creating unequal health risks across socially stratified populations. This review critically examines the mechanisms through which social inequality influences urban heat exposure and evaluates policy interventions aimed at reducing heat-related health disparities. The analysis integrates evidence on urban heat island dynamics, socioeconomic determinants, neighborhood characteristics, housing quality, occupational exposure, and access to environmental resources such as urban green space. Particular attention is given to vulnerable populations that experience disproportionately high rates of heat-related morbidity and mortality due to limited adaptive capacity and unequal access to cooling infrastructure. The review further assesses governance approaches, including equitable urban planning, housing policy, public health preparedness, stakeholder engagement, and climate adaptation strategies that seek to reduce environmental and social inequalities simultaneously. Comparative evidence from cities in North America, Europe, and the Global South demonstrates that successful heat mitigation depends not only on technological or environmental interventions but also on inclusive governance and socially responsive policymaking. The review identifies persistent research gaps regarding causal mechanisms, equity-focused evaluation metrics, and long-term policy effectiveness. It concludes that future urban climate adaptation must integrate environmental sustainability with social justice principles to reduce heat vulnerability, improve health outcomes, and strengthen resilience among disadvantaged urban communities.