Vulnerable populations in urban areas are experiencing the deadly impacts of extreme heat events like never before. Facing rapidly rising temperatures, leading experts from around the world will highlight both nature-based and people-based solutions and opportunities that can make a difference at the local level to reduce the impacts of extreme heat.

This COP28 side event co-hosted by GHHIN, UN-Habitat, Red Cross Climate Centre, ICLEI, WMO, Arbor Day Foundation, and NRDC explored nature-based and people-based solutions and opportunities that can make a difference at the local level to reduce the impacts of extreme heat.

A panel session showcased:

• Opportunities for the scaling up of heat preparedness and early warning
• People-centered policies and behaviors for health protection, particularly indoor heat and heat action plans.
• Nature-based solutions and other city planning interventions that impact how heat is experienced  through changes to urban landscapes, building designs, and green spaces
• Policy and regulatory solutions that can support the implementation of both nature-based and people-centered heat reduction solutions.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Ashley Ward, Duke University, Heat Policy Innovation Hub (USA)
• Joy Shumake-Guillemot, Global Heat Health Information Network, WHO-WMO Joint Office for Climate and Health
• Naomi Hoogervorst, UN-HABITAT
• Shri Krishna S. Vatsa, National Disaster Management Authority – Government of India
• Abhiyant Tiwari, NRDC India
• Shaban Mawanda, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre
• Ingrid Coetzee, ICLEI Africa
• Dan Lambe, ArborDay foundation

Resources

WMO & Early Warnings for All

• Early Warnings for All – Project overview and documents

Global Heat Health Information Network

• Heat and Health: Action Statement from the Global Heat Health Information Network
• “Fan-First” Cooling – a low-carbon way to improve heat resilience in a changing climate

UN-Habitat

• World Urban Forum 2024

Arbor Day Foundation

• Future Plant Hardiness Zones