Extreme urban heat is one of the biggest challenges facing cities today, especially in the Global South, where rapid urbanization and limited resources make adaptation harder. Rising temperatures disrupt work, schooling, and access to health services. Heat also drives up energy demand for cooling, straining energy systems and increasing emissions. Urban heat islands make cities even hotter - sometimes by up to 10°C - threatening lives, productivity, and economic stability.
The costs of inaction are severe. Heatwaves will become frequent and intense, with deadly impacts on vulnerable groups such as outdoor workers, the elderly, and low-income families. By 2050, the number of urban poor exposed to extreme heat could rise by 700 per cent, with the largest impacts in West Africa and Southeast Asia. Without proactive measures, cities risk worsening inequality, economic losses, and migration pressures. Expanding equitable access to sustainable cooling is essential to protect communities and economies.
The Handbook on Urban Heat Management in the Global South helps cities take action. Developed by the World Bank with contributions from the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Handbook offers practical guidance to assess heat risk, plan resilience strategies, and implement solutions such as green infrastructure, passive cooling, and sustainable cooling systems. Organized in three volumes - a policymaker summary, a technical manual, and a solutions catalog - it equips cities to move from reactive responses to long-term strategies that safeguard health, jobs, and quality of life in a warming world.
As the UN Secretary-General’s global call for action on urban heat urges cities to address extreme heat as a defining resilience and equity issue, this Handbook responds with actionable pathways for local governments and planners. It translates the urgency of that call into practical frameworks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
The publication directly supports UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029, particularly through its focus on the ‘Environment and Climate Action’ Impact Area, and the ‘Basic Services’ and ‘Habitability’ aspects of Adequate Housing. It complements ongoing UN-Habitat initiatives such as the Greener Cities Partnership, RISE UP, and the Climate Action Framework for Cities (CHAMP), reinforcing the agency’s commitment to inclusive adaptation, nature-based solutions, and sustainable cooling for vulnerable communities.
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