Lahore Is Getting Hotter — And It Is Not Only Because of Climate Change

 For many people living in Lahore, the change is already noticeable without needing scientific data to confirm it. Summers feel longer, nights remain warmer, and walking outdoors during peak afternoon hours has become increasingly exhausting. Heatwaves that once felt occasional are now becoming part of normal seasonal life.

Climate change is certainly one reason behind this rise in temperature, but it is not the only one. The way Punjab’s cities are expanding is also intensifying the problem.

Over the last two decades, Lahore has experienced rapid urban growth. Housing societies, commercial plazas, underpasses, wide asphalt roads, and concrete infrastructure have replaced open land and natural green areas at an unprecedented pace. While urban development is often associated with modernization and economic growth, it also changes how cities interact with heat.

Concrete and asphalt absorb solar radiation throughout the day and slowly release it back into the atmosphere even after sunset. This is why many urban neighborhoods remain uncomfortably warm during the night while surrounding rural areas cool down much faster. Environmental scientists describe this phenomenon as the “urban heat island effect,” where cities effectively begin trapping their own heat.

The disappearance of mature trees makes the situation worse. Trees are not simply decorative elements in a city. They function as natural cooling systems. Through shade and evapotranspiration, they reduce surrounding temperatures, improve air quality, and create more livable urban environments. In a province like Punjab, where temperatures can exceed 45°C during severe heatwaves, this ecological function becomes critically important.

Yet development priorities often ignore this relationship. Trees are regularly removed for road expansion or commercial construction, while replacement plantation campaigns frequently focus on quantity rather than survival. A newly planted sapling cannot immediately replace the environmental value of a mature tree that has spent decades stabilizing an urban ecosystem.

Climate change discussions in Pakistan often focus on floods, glaciers, or international emissions targets, but urban heat deserves equal attention because it directly affects daily life. Rising temperatures increase electricity consumption, worsen air pollution, strain public health systems, and disproportionately affect low-income communities that lack access to cooling infrastructure.

In many ways, the future livability of Punjab’s cities will depend on whether urban planning begins treating environmental sustainability as essential infrastructure rather than an afterthought. Climate resilience is not only about responding to disasters after they occur; it is also about designing cities that remain habitable in a warming future.

Created by:

Syed Samar Abbas Shirazi

#EPA #Internship #Iam4Climate #ClimateWarrior #PlasticFreePunjab