Heatwave guide for cities

The impacts of extreme heat are deadly, on the rise globally and preventable. In recent years, heatwaves have broken temperature records and led to the deaths of thousands of people. The 2003 European heatwave killed more than 70,000 people, and the 2015 heatwave in India reportedly killed over 2,500 people. However cities can rise to the challenge of coping with more frequent and extreme heatwaves. Cities have a unique potential to adapt to changing heat risks through effective risk management at multiple levels within a city. The heatwave guide provides detailed recommendations for local governments and municipalities on how to reduce risks of, and respond to, heatwaves in their respective cities. Recommendations are given on how to respond before, during and after a heatwave. The report highlights some key case studies from cities around the world on early warning systems, climate-sensitive design, urban heat adaptation strategies and public information campaigns. For more detailed guidance on heatwave risks additional online resources are provided in each chapter.