Heat, smoke, and urban health: cooling and cleaner air centres as a tool for adaptation in a Canadian urban region

Urban climate change impacts, particularly heatwaves and wildfire smoke, are becoming increasingly severe, prompting cities like those in the Greater Vancouver area of Western Canada to develop adaptation measures that address rising temperatures and deteriorating air quality. One such intervention is the establishment of cooling and cleaner air centres, which offer temporary refuge during extreme weather events. However, their implementation to date has often been reactive, fragmented, and lacking in sustained coordination. To better understand how these centres are planned and deployed, we conducted a systematic review of academic and grey literature and conducted interviews with 16 public sector and civil society professionals involved in their implementation in the Greater Vancouver area. The study reveals that while these centres are increasingly seen as vital infrastructure, their effectiveness is limited by governance challenges, under-resourcing, and inconsistent coordination across sectors. Our findings underscore the need for stronger institutional coordination, proactive planning, and equity-oriented design. Motivated by the priorities of regional government partners, this research represents a transdisciplinary effort to generate actionable insights that can inform more inclusive and strategic approaches to urban climate adaptation.