To better understand the possible role of projected land use and cover change (LUCC) in future regional climate projections, we explored the regional climate change response from land use/cover change under different climate scenarios. To do so, we propose a research framework based on different SSP-RCPs to simulate and explore the impacts of future land use/cover changes on the future climate of Zhengzhou City, China, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with land use/cover and meteorological data under different SSP-RCP scenarios based on CMIP6. Two scenarios, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, were compared and analyzed by simulating changes in future climate factors of temperature at 2 m height above ground(T2) and precipitation. The results show that T2 is higher for all 4 months by the year 2060 compared to that in the year 2030. Furthermore, a comparison of the abovementioned years showed that the mean temperatures of January and July were higher than those of SSP2-4.5 under the SSP5-8.5 scenario in both years, but in 2030, the mean T2 of April and October were lower than those of SSP2-4.5 under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. In terms of precipitation, both scenarios have no significant precipitation in July in 2030 and 2060, but there is an unusual increase in January and October.

As global climate change accelerates, the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon has become increasingly pronounced, posing significant challenges to urban energy balance, atmospheric processes, and public health. This study used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to dynamically downscale two CMIP6 scenarios—moderate forcing (SSP245) and high forcing (SSP585)—focusing on Zhengzhou, a rapidly urbanizing city in central China. High-resolution simulations captured fine-scale intra-urban temperature patterns and analyze the spatial and seasonal variations in UHI intensity in 2030 and 2060. The results demonstrated significant seasonal variations in UHI effects in Zhengzhou for both 2030 and 2060 under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, with the most pronounced warming in summer. Notably, under the SSP245 scenario, elevated autumn temperatures in suburban areas reduced the urban–rural temperature gradient, while intensified rural cooling during winter enhanced the UHI effect. These findings underscore the importance of integrating high-resolution climate modeling into urban planning and developing targeted adaptation strategies based on future UHI patterns to address climate challenges.