Extreme Heat Working Group Session at HNPW 26

Time

14:00 – 15:30 UTC+1

Background 

Extreme heat is a significant challenge for the humanitarian community. Extensive thought and action have focused on extreme heat in a non-crisis context. Similar attention has not generally focused on extreme heat in the humanitarian context, where designed-for-context preparedness, warning, response and recovery systems are required. In addition, the Humanitarian Reset has broadened the scope of Extreme Heat Working Group’s attention to extreme heat events, from shelters to now include land, property and sites.   

The 2026 HNPW Extreme Heat session builds on similar sessions in past HNPW meetings to:    

• Share knowledge on shelter-based options to address extreme heat. 
• Identify key action points for the Working Group through the next 12 months. 

Given the Humanitarian Reset, the session will also consider how to broaden the Working Group’s focus from shelter alone to include land, property and sites. 

Schedule

Topic

14:00 – 14:05 Opening, introduction of the session and agenda. 

Practical approaches

14:05 – 14:20 Passive Cooling: Paul Knox Clarke, Principal, ADAPT Initiative

14:20 – 14:30 Addressing Heat and Humidity in Humanitarian Shelter: Univ. of Twente Research Project. 

14:30 – 14:35 Wicked Heat – Which challenges are the most problematic? 

A quick review of the results from HNPW 2025, and the impact of the Humanitarian Reset. 

Brainstorming solutions breakout groups

14:35 – 15:15

Online: Advocacy, Technical Support, Beyond Shelter (one group, 3 topics)

In Person: (1) Advocacy, (2) Technical Support, (3) Beyond Shelter (three groups, one topic each)

Results and next steps

15:15 – 15:30 Results from each group, followed by discussions. 

15:30 Closing 

Registration

1. Visit the registration link.
2. Click on the Registration button. 
3. This will take you to the HNPW log in page. 
4. Once logged in, you will be taken to a page where you can register to participate in person or remotely.