Objectives <p>This work offers a new perspective on social environment sustainability and resilient cities. It suggests how to address and find effective solutions to climate change and adaptation, and sustainable and resilient cities, towards the green energy transition.</p> Study design <p>The work discusses how environmental monitoring campaigns (microclimatic and air contaminants) and visual-perceptive and emotional monitoring on samples of people in urban-built-up and green areas allow the study of the influence of the outdoor environment on human perception.</p> Method <p>The Second Law of thermodynamics is applied to study the relationship between people, climate change, and natural and urban-built environments. Expected results: Well-being and resilience in cities are evaluated by thermodynamic indicators.</p> Conclusions <p>The proposed method shows and quantifies the close interrelation between the complexity of climate change adaptation and dynamic solutions, governance and social policies, the need for participatory and cognitive involvement of society, and the resources of the institutions.</p>