Zagreb residents offer ideas to combat hot asphalt, with greening a popular choice

Zagreb is facing increasing challenges from urban heat, primarily due to the city's extensive asphalt surfaces. Temperatures regularly surpass 30 degrees Celsius, and heatwaves are becoming more frequent and prolonged, making life in the capital difficult for its residents.

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Greening neighborhoods should be the primary goal so the city has a chance to fight such heat more effectively and significantly reduce the impact of future heatwaves, which will be more frequent and longer-lasting.

In response, citizens have proposed various solutions to mitigate the effects of the heat. A prominent suggestion involves significantly increasing green spaces throughout the city, including planting more trees and developing large parks, such as in the former Gredelj area. This approach mirrors successful strategies in cities like Vienna, Copenhagen, and Paris, which have used tree-lined avenues and expanded green areas to reduce the urban heat island effect.

Another critical area for improvement is the city's water infrastructure. While Zagreb benefits from water sources linked to the Sava River, concerns exist about reduced groundwater recharge due to over-development. Residents have noted a scarcity of public water fountains, or "franceka," especially in the city center, leaving citizens and tourists with few places to refill water bottles. Compounding this, approximately 50% of water is reportedly lost in the network before reaching consumers, according to Zagrebački Holding.

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Planting, planting, and planting trees. Proven effect in Paris, where the center has become cooler than 15 years ago.

While the City of Zagreb has acknowledged climate change and initiated various programs, critics argue these remain largely "dead letters on paper." There is a call for more tangible and faster implementation of these plans. Residents express hope that concrete changes will become visible within a few years, but emphasize the need for continuous pressure on politicians from both authorities and the public to prioritize actions that improve urban living conditions and combat the escalating heat.

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So far, these are just dead letters on paper that still need to be implemented into something more concrete and tangible.