Designing cities for a hotter future

What the report says

Al Jazeera published a 28-minute “Talk to Al Jazeera” video on July 19, 2026, featuring sustainability expert, climate advocate and architect Mina Hasman discussing how cities can be redesigned for a hotter climate. The programme presents Hasman’s idea of urban places that “behave like forests” and buildings that function more like trees, using nature as a model for climate-ready design.

According to Al Jazeera, Hasman, described as an award-winning architect, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and a Times 100 climate leader, argues that cities need to adapt urgently as climate change intensifies. The interview frames her vision around buildings that can “breathe,” communities that are better supported by their surroundings, and urban environments that work with natural systems rather than against them.

The report matters because cities are central to climate risk and climate response. Dense urban areas can experience extreme heat, flooding, air pollution and pressure on energy and water systems, while buildings and infrastructure often last for decades. Design choices made now can influence public health, resilience, emissions and quality of life well into the future.

Al Jazeera’s published text does not provide detailed policy proposals, project examples or cost estimates from the interview. More broadly, the ideas described align with growing interest in climate-adaptive architecture, green infrastructure, passive cooling, tree cover and nature-based planning, though any specific recommendations would need to be assessed from the full video rather than the short article summary.