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Background

Extreme heat is accelerating across the globe, emerging as one of the deadliest climate risks. But nowhere is it more acute than in cities. Urban areas absorb and retain heat through dense infrastructure, dark surfaces, and waste heat from buildings and vehicles, creating a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. In many cities, this can raise local temperatures by up to 7°C compared to surrounding rural areas. As global temperatures rise, this effect is compounding the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves, putting pressure on health systems, infrastructure, and the urban poor, who often lack access to cooling, green space, and resilient housing.

Managing urban heat is central to protecting people, sustaining development gains, and delivering climate resilience. To tackle this growing risk, cities need evidence-based tools, integrated planning, and enabling policy environments that accelerate implementation. This session will spotlight the Handbook for Urban Heat Management in the Global South, a new publication developed by the World Bank, in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which offers a practical strategies and real-world examples for understanding and addressing urban heat. The webinar will also situate the handbook within the broader global agenda, exploring how it connects with policy frameworks and emerging initiatives.

Objectives

• Spotlight urban heat as a specific and intensifying challenge within the broader climate adaptation agenda.
• Present the Handbook for Urban Heat Management in the Global South as a flagship knowledge product for heat adaptation planning.
• Explore how cities and national governments can use the handbook to guide cross-sectoral action and unlock finance.
• Encourage collaboration across working groups, city networks, and private actors to scale urban heat adaptation efforts ahead of COP30 and beyond.

Agenda

11:30 – 11:35
Welcome
Minni Sastry, Advisor on Extreme Heat and Sustainable Cooling, UNEP Cool Coalition

11:35 – 11:40
Keynote: The Role of Evidence and Investment in Urban Heat Resilience
Mehul Jain, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, World Bank

11:40 – 11:45
Keynote: Embedding Urban Heat Resilience in Climate Policy and Planning
Eleni (Lenio) Myrivili, Global Chief Heat Officer, UNEP/Atlantic Council Climate Resilience Center

11:45 – 12:15
Panel Discussion: Scaling Urban Heat Adaptation
Moderator: Minni Sastry, Advisor on Extreme Heat and Sustainable Cooling, UNEP Cool Coalition
Panellists:
• Jaya Dhindaw, Executive Director, Cities Program, WRI India
• Jules Kuperminc, Product Manager, Google
• Giorgia Rambelli, Director, Mission Innovation Urban Transitions Mission, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy

12:15 – 12:25
Q&A Session

12:25 – 12:30
Closing Remarks
Minni Sastry, Advisor on Extreme Heat and Sustainable Cooling, UNEP Cool Coalition

Resources

• Save-the-date
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