Strengthening Global Coordination on Extreme Heat
As extreme heat events intensify worldwide, global governance structures must evolve to meet this growing challenge. The Heat Policy Innovation Hub has partnered with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to assess and enhance heat governance across UN entities and international organizations.
This initiative supports the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat, which underscores the urgent need for coordinated global responses. The goal of this project is to build a more effective, interconnected framework for addressing extreme heat across sectors and governance levels by identifying gaps, opportunities, and best practices.
Project Overview
Mapping the Heat Governance Landscape
The Heat Policy Innovation Hub conducted a first-of-its-kind stocktake of heat-related governance, policies, and initiatives across UN entities and international organizations. This analysis highlights where coordination is strong, where gaps exist, and how interagency collaboration can be strengthened. Publication coming soon!
Assessing Global Heat Action Plans
The hub team created a national and subnational framework to evaluate and strengthen heat action plans (HAPs) across multiple countries. This framework identifies effective practices and common gaps in policy design, implementation, and governance, providing a structured approach to integrating long-term resilience with emergency response. Publication coming soon!
Developing a Heat Governance Self-Assessment Tool
To support UN Member States, hub experts designed a practical framework for assessing governance maturity on extreme heat. This tool will help governments evaluate their heat risk management strategies and identify areas for improvement. Extreme heat governance toolkit—including key indicators, assessment tools, and policy recommendations— coming soon!
Case Studies on National Heat Resilience
The hub team compiled twelve country case studies, analyzing national approaches to heat governance, early warning systems, and cross-sectoral coordination. These studies will serve as a resource for policymakers looking to adopt effective strategies. Case studies coming soon!
