DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE UHI EFFECTS AND PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Urban Heat Island (UHI) impacts are a new public health and environmental issue in fast-growing metropolitan cities, especially in the Global South. This research examines the spatial coverage of UHI and considers the efficacy of sustainable urban planning interventions in reducing its impact in Lagos, Nigeria. By using Landsat 8 satellite imagery, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST) analysis across three major local government areas Lagos Mainland, Ikeja, and Eti-Osa the research identifies a high negative relationship (r = -0.76, p < 0.01) between vegetation cover and surface temperature. Lagos Mainland had the highest mean LST of 38.5°C and the lowest NDVI of 0.18, indicating maximum heat concentration in highly urbanized districts with zero vegetation. A green infrastructure development simulation illustrated that it has the potential to lower surface temperatures by as much as 2.1°C in the tropics through a 20% enhancement of vegetative cover. The research highlights the vital function of vegetation in cities for climate adaptation and validates the use of nature-based solutions, including urban greening, cool roofs, and green zoning. The research concludes with strategic relevance to the incorporation of climate-resilient planning into the urban development framework of Lagos in order to improve environmental sustainability and urban resilience.