Building Resilience Against Extreme Heat

Heatwaves are a major climate-related threat to human development.

Currently, 30% of the world copes with deadly heatwaves lasting 20 days or longer. Projections suggest heat waves will impact 75% of the planet’s inhabitants by 2100 if preventive measures are not implemented to mitigate their effects.

With rising temperatures—particularly in cities—inflicting negative health and economic impacts across the globe, the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center formed the Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance to protect people from extreme heat. The Red Cross Red Crescent system is actively working to address extreme heat, with the American Red Cross and other humanitarian partners collaborating with the EHRA.

Building on the results of an Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center convening at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in December 2019, the EHRA represents a multi-sectoral coalition committed to achieving results Creation of EHRA reflects widespread agreement that a lack of awareness of heat risks and impacts among decision-makers is a critical problem. It seeks to develop targeted policies and formalized governance around extreme heat.

Join InterAction’s Climate Advocacy Working Group for presentations and dialogue on the growing threat of extreme heat for frontline communities worldwide and how the NGO community can support efforts to address it. Speakers will present on initiatives by the Red Cross Red Crescent system to address extreme heat, the EHRA, and where InterAction Members can engage.

Kathy Baughman McLeod is the director of the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht–Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. She leads the creation and execution of the Center’s strategy to achieve its goal of reaching one billion people worldwide with resilience solutions to the challenges of climate change, migration, and security by 2030. This includes the recent launch of the Council's Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance.

Julie Arrighi holds a joint position between the American Red Cross and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. She leads the Climate Centre’s urban portfolio which includes a focus on heatwaves. Julie also leads the Climate Centre's partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross which focuses on adaptation in conflict.

This event is open to InterAction Members only. Want to attend this event and others like it? Apply for InterAction Membership and join the community.

Questions? Contact ldoyle@interaction.org.

For InterAction Members, please RSVP HERE no later than COB December 8.