Taipei: A climate specialist has raised concerns over the Ministry of Environment’s (MOENV) initiative to introduce a “cool map” in July, arguing that addressing the escalating city temperatures in Taiwan should prioritize vegetation over air-conditioning.

According to Focus Taiwan, the MOENV’s proposed “cool map” aims to guide people to air-conditioned spaces in urban areas. However, professor Lin Tzu-ping from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) expressed to CNA that the map should instead focus on identifying comfortable outdoor areas to mitigate the summer heat.

Lin, who leads NCKU’s Building and Climate Lab (BCLab), stated that reliance on air-conditioning might actually decrease people’s heat resilience. He advocated for anti-heat strategies that emphasize the development of public areas adorned with more vegetation.

Lin highlighted that the most successful urban cooling strategies often involve a mix of plants, water, and wind. He proposed that Taiwan should invest in creating more interconnected shaded areas equipped with ventilation and water features to help people cool down effectively.

Citing Singapore as an example, Lin noted that shaded areas are available within 400 meters of subway stations, providing protection from the heat for people when they are outdoors.

Addressing Taiwan’s future urban cooling measures, Lin emphasized the need for enhanced cross-agency collaboration. He suggested that the Ministry of the Interior could oversee building policies while local government agencies manage public parks.