Extreme heat, silent killer of climate change: How can cities overcome it?

• Florence School of Transnational Governance

The STG Talks, held weekly at Badia Fiesolana and online, serve as a space for discussion for the STG community and beyond. Led by the STG Fellows, the talks are a place for informal learning and exchange on global issues affecting different areas of policymaking.

Extreme heat kills more people per year than any other climate disaster and negatively affects nearly every human activity and society worldwide. Heat impacts our health and mental acuity, worker safety and productivity, decreases children’s learning, lowers agricultural yields, melts infrastructure like rail lines and cable cars, and poses significant risks to daily business.

By 2050, without preventative measures, projections show that heat waves will negatively affect 75% of people on the planet. These impacts stymie economies and hurt people, particularly the most vulnerable. Over 1 billion people lack access to basic cooling measures.  

This STG Talk aims to raise awareness about extreme heat, analyse its impact on health, economy, and productivity, and explain how Nature-Based Solutions are key to dealing with extreme heat. It will also provide case studies of cities dealing with extreme heat. 

Speakers:

• Nicolás Azócar, Policy Leader Fellow
• Anna Ragnarsdóttir, Policy Leader Fellow
• Elena Evangelidis, Researcher, Department of Law
• Shriya Dayal, Master's student

The event will be held in a hybrid setting. When registering please indicate if you wish to attend the event in person or online. Zoom link will be provided after registration.