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Extreme heat case studies

This page presents case studies of extreme heat events and responses from different regions and contexts.

The examples illustrate how heat risks have been experienced, managed, and addressed around the world. They highlight impacts and showcase valuable lessons learned. Together, they provide practical insights to inform preparedness, planning, and risk reduction efforts for future heat events.

In 2022 alone, Portugal lost over 2,000 lives to extreme heat. In response, Amadora, a UNDRR Making Cities Resilient Resilience Hub, has taken bold steps to protect its people.
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Case study
Honduras
Trees4heatresilience: evaluating tree canopy coverage to reduce air conditioning demand in Honduran urban neighborhoods 
This research examines the neighborhood-level relationship between urban tree canopy coverage and air conditioning (A/C) usage in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, a rapidly growing city with high heat exposure.
  • Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
Training course
Online
COPE Heatwaves
Travel to the city of Paris to discover how the city implements their ‘climate action plan’ to help deal with heatwaves.
  • COPE Disaster Champions
Case study
Australia
Strengthening resilience to extreme heat: an Adelaide case study
This place-based case study explores how heat manifests in an urban context through a systems lens, examining interconnected roles. A fictional family narrative runs alongside the analysis, bringing systemic risks to life.
  • Australian Red Cross
  • Institute for Social and Environmental Transition - International (ISET)
  • Monash University
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
  • Zurich Insurance Group Limited
Case study
United States of America
Collaborative action in Massachusetts to counter extreme heat
Promising examples of progress are emerging from the Boston metropolitan area that show the power of partnership between researchers, government officials, practitioners, and community-based organizations.
  • Federation of American Scientists
Case study
Mexico
Heatwaves and the 2024 general elections in Mexico
The case study includes prescriptive lessons learned that may be useful for Mexico’s electoral stakeholders, as well as for those in other countries in the context of organising electoral processes that may face natural hazads.
  • International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
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