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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
Uganda
Integration of city-centric approaches into national policy processes: Kampala’s case
This case study examines how Kampala, Uganda's capital, is integrating city-centric approaches into national policy to manage climate-related human mobility
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Case study
India
Risk governance or risky governance? Delhi’s urban utility governance landscape and heatwaves
This report examines how routine utility governance produces differentiated heat risk in Delhi, focusing on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and its interfaces with municipal bodies, revenue administration, and other corridor-owning agencies.
  • Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC)
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
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