Abstract
In recent years, South Africa has experienced significant climate change, leading to extensive flooding and drought. These disasters are usually found in densely populated areas, such as cities. Due to increased concentrations of built infrastructure and decreased natural land cover, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect tends to intensify as urban populations continue to grow. Conventional material pavements, popular in urban areas, contribute to UHI. Innovative pavement solutions, such as cool pavements, have been developed to help address UHI effects. A groundbreaking solution to this is the implementation of cool pavements. This study explored the application of cool pavements as a panacea for addressing UHI in South African cities. Using survey data gathered from built environment professionals involved in pavement construction, the study concludes that the application of cool pavement is still in its infancy in the country. This application is challenged by three groups of factors: financial and regulatory factors, awareness and knowledge, and temporal and risk factors. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort among professionals, the government and stakeholders involved in infrastructure delivery in cities. The study's findings provide a theoretical foundation for further exploration of cool pavement applications, particularly in areas where such research has not received adequate attention.