💻 Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0fK_M_SYT2GSi1bohsDJMw#/registration

📅 Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
🕓 Time: 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM IST

Organised by: All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI)

💬 About the Roundtable

The All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) is convening a virtual roundtable on “Heat-Resilient Infrastructure: Lessons from Emerging Global Experience” on Friday, August 14, 2026.

The roundtable will bring together experts, practitioners, researchers, and community-focused organisations to discuss how infrastructure can better protect people from rising extreme heat. The discussion will focus on humanitarian leadership, Heat Action Plan implementation, risk-informed infrastructure planning, heat-safe housing, shaded public spaces, cooling centres, reliable water systems, green-blue infrastructure, anticipatory action, and practical support for women workers, small businesses, children, older persons, and low-income communities.

📘 Launch of a Special Issue

The session will also mark the launch of a special issue of Southasiadisasters.net dedicated to this theme, featuring insights from field experiences, policy perspectives, community voices, and local practices. Through dialogue and knowledge exchange, the roundtable aims to highlight more inclusive, locally grounded, and people- and nature-centred approaches to heat-resilient infrastructure across South Asia and beyond.

🎯 Key Objectives:

1. To exchange practical lessons on heat-resilient infrastructure from South Asia and emerging global experience.
2. To discuss how infrastructure can protect health, livelihoods, dignity, and essential services during extreme heat.
3. To strengthen dialogue on Heat Action Plan implementation, local preparedness, green-blue infrastructure, and community-centred adaptation.

💬 Key Discussion Areas:

1. Humanitarian Leadership and Heat Governance: Strengthening preparedness, coordination, and accountability for slow-onset urban heat crises.
2. Heat-Resilient Infrastructure and Essential Services: Protecting housing, schools, hospitals, transport systems, water systems, cooling centres, and public spaces during heatwaves.
3. Community-Centred and Nature-Based Heat Resilience: Advancing shaded streets, old trees, green-blue infrastructure, heat-safe livelihoods, and practical support for women workers, small businesses, and vulnerable communities.

🎤 Speakers:

1. Mr. Charles Kelly, Chair, Environment Community of Practice, Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster
2. Er. Kundan Jung Thapa, Disaster Risk Specialist and Researcher, NAXA Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal
3. Dr. Deepa Gavali, Executive Secretary, Gujarat Ecology Society, India
4. Mr. Mihir R. Bhatt, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India

📢 Join us to explore how heat-resilient infrastructure can protect health, livelihoods, essential services, and dignity for communities most exposed to extreme heat, including women workers, small businesses, informal settlements, children, older persons, and low-income households.

Connect with the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) and subscribe for updates on upcoming events, publications and initiatives.

Speakers

Deepa Gavali

Executive Secretary, Gujarat Ecology Society, Gujarat, India

Short Bio

Deepa Gavali

Executive Secretary, Gujarat Ecology Society, Gujarat, India

Dr. Deepa Gavali is associated with Gujarat Ecology Society, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, and works on ecology, biodiversity, urban green cover, nature-based solutions, and climate resilience.

Kundan Jung Thapa

Disaster Risk Specialist and Researcher, NAXA Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

Short Bio

Kundan Jung Thapa

Disaster Risk Specialist and Researcher, NAXA Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

Er. Kundan Jung Thapa is a Disaster Risk Specialist, researcher, and civil engineer with expertise in geospatial technologies for climate change, urban resilience and disaster risk reduction. As Program Lead at NAXA Pvt. Ltd., he leads multidisciplinary initiatives that combine GIS, remote sensing, satellite imagery, field assessments, and digital platforms to strengthen anticipatory action and climate adaptation. His recent work includes developing heat hotspot analyses, heat-health risk assessments, and GIS-based decision-support systems for the IFRC, American Red Cross, ADPC, and local governments across Nepal. His research and practice focus on translating complex spatial data into actionable insights that support resilient infrastructure planning, heat action planning, and evidence-based public investment.

Charles Kelly

Chair, Environment Community of Practice, Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster

Short Bio

Charles Kelly

Chair, Environment Community of Practice, Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster

Mr. Kelly has been involved in international disaster risk management for over 40 years, including work in countries spanning the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. His work has involved disaster preparedness and response, recovery, early warning and risk reduction. In recent years, he has been a humanitarian sector focal point for environmental issues and currently serves as the Secretariat for the Extreme Heat Working Group of the Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster.

Mihir R. Bhatt

Director, AIDMI

Short Bio

Mihir R. Bhatt

Director, AIDMI

Mr. Mihir R. Bhatt leads the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) and is working on the intersection of heat and towns and nature in urban and rural areas in India, with affected small businesses and small farmers.