Agenda

14:00 – 14:05
Welcome and Context Setting
Mr. Benjamin Hickman, Programme Manager, UNEP India

Session 1 – Sharing strategies & experiences

14:05 – 14:15
Interventions at the National level: Strategic efforts to address heatwave mitigation and adaptation by means of advisories, operational guidelines, pilot initiatives, and dedicated funding frameworks
Mr. S Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary, National Disaster Mitigation Authority (NDMA), India

14:15 – 14:25
Interventions at the State-level
Mr. Raman Kumar Singh, Senior Urban Development Specialist, National Institute of Urban Affairs, NIUA

14:25- 14:35
UNEP Cool Coalition Interventions: Insights from The BeCool Project, Chennai UHI Master Plan integration, and experience from other countries. 
Mr. Benjamin Hickman, Programme Manager, UNEP India

Session 2 – Panel Discussion

14:35- 15:25

• The panel discussion will focus on fostering collective learning, amplifying proven practices, and encouraging cross-sector collaboration. It will highlight how policy level interventions strengthened by stakeholder engagement , gender-responsive planning actions, and digital innovation, can drive equitable action towards mitigating urban heat.
• Special focus will be placed on vulnerable populations – women, children, elderly – whose health and productivity are disproportionately affected by heat stress.
• The dialogue will inspire a shared vision for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.

Moderator: Mr. Raman Kumar Singh, Senior Urban Development Specialist, National Institute of Urban Affairs, NIUA

Panellists:
• Moumita Shaw, Urban and Regional Development Advisor, GIZ India
• Rajesh Sharma, Programme Specialist- Disaster Risk Information and Application, UNDP
• Parimita Mohanty, Senior Programme Manager, UNEP Asia and the Pacific

15:25 – 15:30
Closing Reflections
Mr. Benjamin Hickman, Programme Manager, UNEP India
Vote of thanks by Ruchi Gupta, NIUA

Resources

• Social media card
• Summary article