Scorching Cities Local Solutions to Combat Extreme Heat

As of April 2024, the world has seen 11 consecutive months of record-high global average temperatures. Global warming and rapid urbanization are exacerbating dangerously high daytime and nighttime temperatures – and complicating efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in cities around the world.

Heatwaves and their threats to development are particularly severe in urban spaces, because of the heat island effect, where congestion and the built environment drive temperatures ever higher. Of greatest concern are the billions of vulnerable people—especially those who lack access to adequate housing, basic services, and green spaces—facing increasing risks of heat-related morbidity and mortality.

The UN Secretary-General’s recent Call to Action on Extreme Heat highlights the urgent need for action. Traversing the SDGS, the Call underscores the need to protect at-risk communities, safeguard workers, boost resilience, and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. This session discusses the opportunities and challenges in meeting this call to action in cities, and how cities can achieve their development priorities despite increasingly longer and stronger heat events.