Approach of achieving urban environmental equity for the elderly by evaluating cooling effects from urban parks

Frequent extreme heat events pose a significant public health threat, particularly to the elderly. Urban parks have long been recognized for their role in mitigating heat impacts, underscoring the need for accurate evaluation of their cooling services. This study aims to enhance urban climate equity for the elderly by: 1) modifying a multiple accessibility framework with remote sensing data to quantify urban parks' cooling service, considering both their direct cooling range and the cooling benefits realized by elderly individuals traveling to parks; 2) comparing the spatial distribution of park cooling services; and 3) exploring the impact of park design and urban planning on park cooling effects. The study found that inner-city parks suffer from mismatches between the supply of cooling services and the demand from elderly. In contrast, outer-city parks, while offering greater cooling service, exhibit pronounced internal inequities in access and usage. Notably, 78.96 % of blocks with elderly residents require over 15 min to reach the nearest cooling park, while 60.81 % of blocks do not benefit from the cooling effects of nearby parks. Furthermore, the cooling effects of parks are shaped by both internal and external factors and suggesting that urban parks with small and flexible layouts should be given greater consideration. By addressing these disparities, this research contributes to advancing urban climate resilience and promoting environmental equity, highlighting the critical need for prioritizing the well-being of the most vulnerable.