Conclusions and Recommendations Bucharest’s climate is getting hotter, regardless of the climate scenario considered. The rise in temperatures seen over the past century is expected to continue until the end of the century under the RCP 8.5 scenario (where no mitigation measures are taken). The increase will be obvious in both average and maximum temperatures, leading to more frequent heatwaves, extreme temperatures, tropical days and nights. The effects of warming will be felt across all sectors of activity. The risk of mortality associated with extreme temperatures will increase, as will energy consumption during the summer months. Bucharest has taken a few first steps towards climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience in response to the intensification of extreme weather events. However, these efforts must be sustained, expanded, and tailored to meet the needs of the community and economic stakeholders. Improving institutional resilience is among the most urgent priorities. In addition, Bucharest holds significant potential for sustainable urban development, but the energy transition must be accelerated to mitigate the impact of pessimistic climate forecasts(RCP 8.5), which estimate over 100 tropical days annually by 2100. The growing pressure caused by extreme heat in Bucharest requires an appropriate reaction through measures taken at individual level, as well as at community level. We can take adaptation measures aimed at minimising the local effects of extreme heat, mitigation measures to help reduce its underlying causes, and resilience measures to enhance our ability to respond, recover, and return to normal activities. In recent years, some public authorities in Bucharest have started to take concrete steps to manage the effects of climate changes. This is due in part to pressure from the European Union and non­governmental organisations, and in part to the increasingly obvious effects of climate change(storms, high temperatures). The presence of NGOs actively piloting measures to reduce the effects of heatwaves and promoting nature-based solutions to tackle the climate crisis provides a valuable opportunity to inform and engage the local community. This, in turn, can help exert pressure on local authorities. At present, several strategic documents aim to reduce pollution and increase the quality of green and blue areas. Perhaps one of the most conspicuous manifestations of this shift in attitude is the fact that this year the Municipality of Bucharest has appointed a climate neutrality officer(within the Bucharest City Hall). Nonetheless, the fact that some of the key documents concerning the quality of green and blue spaces have yet to be approved by the General Council suggests a limited understanding among political decision-makers of the urgency of the situation. On the other hand, an increasing number of non­governmental organisations and grassroots initiatives are publicly advocating for the preservation of green spaces and the(re)valorisation of areas with potential for improving the environmental infrastructure. One of the core values championed by both sides is the inclusion of citizens in the planning of these future initiatives. The participatory dimension appears to be a principle that both public authorities and civil society frequently highlight in public discourse when it comes to the city’s ecological future. However, vulnerable individuals are almost entirely absent from the public debates. The threat of gentrification is hardly ever mentioned in the public discourse. Except for a few people from the technical staff who(occasionally) reference the issue in public documents, the fact that market mechanisms lead to rising housing costs in areas adjacent to improved green infrastructure, or that urban regeneration often results in evictions, seems to be missing from any local public authority’s action plan. Another aspect that goes undocumented by the public authorities is the daily lives of vulnerable groups living in the city. During heatwaves, we are relatively used to receiving advice about staying hydrated, remaining indoors, and avoiding work in direct sunlight. In fact, these are not feasible options for people who live in precarious housing conditions or have low wages from day labour or poorly paid jobs. What is more, those working independently, without labour contracts, such as is the case of delivery workers, are deprived of the rights they would otherwise have in relation to the companies they serve during periods of extreme heat. Local public authorities must incorporate into their climate resilience and adaptation policies the guarantee of energy security and access to water for all Bucharest Under Heatwave 29