WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao’s worsening heat crisis is not only the result of global climate change — it is also driven by local choices in urban planning, greenery management and building design. Dat zegt architect and ProMo chairman Dennis Klaus, who spoke Thursday during the fourth session of the Curaçao Climate Change Platform at the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
Experts at the event presented new findings on the health impacts of climate change, climate-resilient spatial planning, and updated local climate projections.
Urban Design Is Making Curaçao Hotter
According to Klaus, Curaçao’s built environment is amplifying heat rather than mitigating it. He points to:
Large-scale clearing of vegetation
Too few trees and too little shade
Excessive concrete and paved surfaces
Modern, non-tropical building styles featuring large glass façades, minimal shading and poor ventilation
These choices, hij explains, cause indoor and outdoor temperatures to rise significantly, driving up discomfort and energy consumption.
In contrast, traditional tropical architecture — with deep roof overhangs, shaded walls and effective cross-ventilation — performs noticeably better in Curaçao’s climate.
International “3–30–300” Model Not Applied on Curaçao
Klaus referenced the globally recognized 3–30–300 model for sustainable urban development:
Every resident should be able to see at least three trees from their home
Every neighborhood should have 30% tree canopy coverage
Every household should be within 300 meters of a quality green space
Despite rising heat and air-quality concerns, this basic climate-adaptation framework is not yet applied in Curaçao, he warned.
Urgent Call for Climate-Conscious Planning
Klaus urged government bodies, planners and developers to rethink how the island grows.
“Curaçao urgently needs climate-aware urban planning, more greenery, and a renewed respect for tropical architecture to improve comfort and livability,” he said.