What did the Le comfort estival à Genève report analyse?

The report analysed the effects of heat on daily life and the strategies put in place to cope with it, highlighting how the ability to cope with high temperatures is strongly influenced by the social and housing profile of citizens.

Which categories are most exposed according to the survey?

Women and gender minorities, people with modest incomes, tenants, residents of dense urban areas, the elderly and those with health problems are much more exposed to the negative effects of heat.

What structural solutions are the experts asking for?

Experts call for thermal renovation of buildings with attention to rents, greater flexibility of working hours, recourse to teleworking, alignment between school and professional hours and free access to air-conditioned spaces and refreshing places.

Heatwave: Women, Elderly and Poor Most at Risk (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 5 August 2026

A report by the University of Geneva reveals that the ability to cope with heat waves depends on social, economic and housing factors.

Context

In brief

It is noted that the heat is not experienced equally by everyone in Geneva
Survey conducted in the summer of 2025 on over 1000 residents
Two thirds regularly suffered from the heat at home
Three out of four people report sleep disturbances

Key facts

What: Report on summer comfort and inequalities
When: Summer 2025
Where: Geneva
Who: University of Geneva as part of the SWICE project
Amount: Over 1000 Geneva residents surveyed

…

Operational details

# Resource asymmetries and adaptation strategies

The research highlights a deep asymmetry in the resources available to citizens to deal with heat waves. On the one hand, there are those who can count on a well-insulated accommodation, an air-conditioned office, cheap means to install cooling systems or the possibility of temporarily moving to cooler places. On the other hand, those who must survive with fans, wet towels and walking paths designed to stay in the shade, strategies that researchers define as limited and insufficient to guarantee lasting relief. For scholars, these individual approaches are not enough and are not decisive for the entire community. The report calls for structural interventions to reduce the inequalities that emerge during summer periods characterized by high temperatures. The absolute priority identified by the experts is the thermal renovation of buildings, with a particular focus on condominiums occupied by low-income families, but taking care not to trigger increases in rents that could fuel gentrification phenomena. Organizational measures such as greater flexibility in working hours, the use of teleworking and better alignment between school and professional hours are also proposed, along with free access to air-conditioned spaces such as cinemas and shopping centers and the opening of new refreshing places including

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Key points

Future perspectives and interventions for thermal justice

Addressing urban climate vulnerability requires a coordinated effort that goes beyond simply managing the summer weather emergency. Institutions and researchers agree that public policies must be oriented towards a radical transformation of the urban environment and work habits. Among the proposals put forward are urban planning aimed at mitigating the urban heat island effect and the promotion of incentives for energy efficiency interventions that protect the most fragile tenants from excessive rent increases. The aim is to ensure that energy transition and climate adaptation measures do not become a privilege for a few, but a right accessible to all citizens. For those who want to deepen the planning of their expenses related to housing, home management or the overall assessment of their income and expenses in a changing economic context, it is possible to consult dedicated resources such as the calcolatore stipendio for an in-depth analysis of their personal finances.

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Le comfort estival à Genève report analyse?: The report analysed the effects of heat on daily life and the strategies put in place to cope with it, highlighting how the ability to cope with high temperatures is strongly influenced by the social and housing profile of citizens.
Which categories are most exposed according to the survey?: Women and gender minorities, people with modest incomes, tenants, residents of dense urban areas, the elderly and those with health problems are much more exposed to the negative effects of heat.
What structural solutions are the experts asking for?: Experts call for thermal renovation of buildings with attention to rents, greater flexibility of working hours, recourse to teleworking, alignment between school and professional hours and free access to air-conditioned spaces and refreshing places.