SYDNEY, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Urban heat islands, where city temperatures are higher than surrounding rural areas, are double-edged swords for residents, a new study said on Tuesday.

Urban heat islands are often linked to increased heat-related deaths. However, they may also help reduce cold-related deaths, particularly in colder cities, according to the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), which is part of the research.

Researchers from China's Nanjing University analysed data from over 3,000 cities worldwide and found that in 2018, the decrease in cold-related deaths due to urban heat islands was 4.4 times greater than the rise in heat-related fatalities, said the study published in Nature Climate Change.

In high-latitude cities like Moscow, the benefits were even more pronounced, which saw a reduction in cold-related deaths that was 11.5 times greater than those associated with heat, the study shows.

The study also examined common heat mitigation strategies, such as increasing greenery and reflective surfaces. While these can reduce summer heat, they may also unintentionally increase winter mortality if applied without considering seasonal impacts, researchers said.

Researchers stress the need for climate strategies that are tailored by region and season.

Rather than viewing urban heat islands solely as a hazard, cities could leverage their warming effects during colder months, without compromising efforts to stay cool in the summer, said the study. Enditem

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