Southasiadisasters.net, Issue No. 217 | March 2025

Extreme heat is an escalating climate risk in the Asia-Pacific, posing serious threats to lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. As global temperatures rise, heatwaves have become more intense, amplifying the need for urgent, coordinated action.

This special issue of Southasiadisasters.net, titled “Key Action Areas for Addressing Extreme Heat in the Asia-Pacific: Lessons from Regional Platforms”, focuses on strategies emerging from regional dialogues. It highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, early warning systems, nature-based cooling solutions, and inclusive governance. By integrating scientific innovation with community-led adaptation efforts, Asia-Pacific nations can bolster their resilience against extreme heat. The insights shared in this issue provide a blueprint for future policies, climate-responsive urban planning, and sustainable financing mechanisms.

In This Issue:

1. Combating Extreme Heat in Asia-Pacific: APMCDRR 2024 as a Catalyst for Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction
   Asma Saleem, Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, ICVA
2. ADRRN Insight into Extreme Heat: An Emerging Priority for Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia
   Takeshi Komino, ADRRN Chairperson, Japan
3. Protection of Coastal Communities from Extreme Heat in Bangladesh
   Muhammad Taher, Duyog Nivaran, Bangladesh
4. Nothing About Us Without Us: Centering Children and Young People in Climate Action and Heat Governance
   Susmita Choudhury, James Balzer, Hikmah Ubaidillah, Husnul Maad, Keeva Duffey, Russell Dowling, Khadiga Alsharif, Amelia Andrews, Child Fund International
5. Cooling Communities: Mercy Corps’ Top Priorities for Extreme Heat Action
   Pratap Maharjan, Program Manager, and Kriti Bhuju, Influencing and Communication Specialist, Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, Mercy Corps, Nepal
6. The Effect of Extreme Heat and Drought in Afghanistan
   Abdul Wali Muslih, Manager, Technical and Coordination Unit, DACAAR, Kabul, Afghanistan
7. Building Climate Resilience in Pakistan: Community-Led Adaptation and Urban Sustainability in the Asia Pacific
   Muhammad Mudassar Javed, Chief Executive Officer, Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP-Pakistan and Afghanistan)
8. Top Two Cooling Agenda Items for the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre Against Extreme Heat in 2025
   Jason KW Lee and Janice Y Ho, Heat Resilience and Performance Centre, National University of Singapore
9. Extreme Heat: Recommendations for Local Action in the Asia-Pacific Region
   Mihir R. Bhatt, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI), India