A methodological framework for integrated climate adaptation and mitigation assessment in urban design

Climate change is increasingly affecting buildings, infrastructure, natural systems, and socio-economic activities in urban areas, while cities also contribute significantly to global warming through high energy consumption and carbon emissions from buildings, transport, waste, and energy systems. In this context, urban design plays a crucial role in advancing climate-resilient and low-carbon development. However, existing assessment systems still tend to address climate change adaptation and mitigation separately, limiting the holistic evaluation of urban design scenarios. This study develops a methodological framework for the integrated assessment of climate change adaptation and mitigation in urban design. The framework is based on a structured set of key performance indicators and associated design measures to support the evaluation of built environment vulnerabilities, carbon emission drivers, and the performance of urban design scenarios across multiple scales and climate hazards in both urban regeneration and new development projects. The results show that current environmental assessment systems predominantly prioritize either mitigation or adaptation, without adequately capturing their interrelations within the built environment. The proposed framework addresses this gap by supporting scenario comparison and design decision-making through an integrated, multiscale approach. The findings also highlight the strategic role of green and blue measures for buildings and open spaces, as these solutions can simultaneously enhance climate adaptation and mitigation. Overall, the framework provides a coherent basis for more integrated climate-responsive urban design assessment.