Dynamics of urban cooling strategies across distinct climatic contexts: A scoping review and evidence analysis

The paradigm of the contemporary global scenario is characterized by accelerated urban expansion. This expansion promotes soil sealing and the replacement of vegetation with low-albedo materials, thereby intensifying the Urban Heat Island effect, which elevates temperatures by 2 °C to 12 °C. By means of a scoping review structured under the PRISMA-ScR protocol and complemented by bibliometric analysis (2015-2025), this study systematized 86 articles to map and evaluate the performance of urban cooling strategies across different climate classifications. The results indicate an exponential growth in investigations, although a concentration in subtropical and continental climates was detected, with a research prominence from China. It was found that the effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions is not a constant attribute, as it is conditioned by urban configuration. An asymmetry in efficacy was evidenced: while parks and dense afforestation attenuate the Physiological Equivalent Temperature index by up to 18 °C, green roofs exhibit limited performance at the pedestrian level (0.1 °C to 0.7 °C). This discrepancy corroborates that the operative effectiveness of these strategies transcends the typology of the technology, depending instead on morphological arrangement and configuration. The study highlights critical trade-offs, such as the increase in Mean Radiant Temperature induced by high-albedo materials in compact urban canyons and the physiological limitations of vegetation under water stress conditions in arid climates. It is inferred that heat mitigation requires multiscale approaches and bioclimatic contextualization, rendering the expansion of the knowledge frontier in the Global South imperative to ensure urban resilience in the face of climate change.