Extreme cold, strong winds, and snow challenge urban planners in countries like Mongolia. Policies and urban design solutions for cold climates must consider local topography and standards of living, and address microclimatic problems around individual buildings, clusters of buildings, and open spaces.

A climate-sensitive design approach (CSDA) recognizes that the design of a built-up area directly influences the climatic comfort in an urban environment. Urban microclimates are mainly connected to design factors, such as orientation, shape, texture, density, and shading. Designing and planning urban neighborhoods with a CSDA can lead to a 50% reduction in heating and cooling energy demand, while adapting to climate change impacts. Within a CSDA, green urban planning is an approach that helps build the climate-resilient cities of tomorrow through smarter and greener urban design. Green urban planning is a valuable and flexible tool that can be applied to a range of urban contexts and at different scales. Several pilot projects, including some that were realized as part of knowledge and support technical assistance by the Asian Development Bank, offer important lessons for urban planners and policymakers.