Taking Heat: A Humanitarian Perspective on Heat Waves

Abstract

Historically, the humanitarian sector has had limited engagement in dealing with extreme heat events. This has been due, in parts, to many operations taking place in already warm environments, where the difference between hot and too hot can be hard to quickly define; the quick onset of extreme heat events, too quick for normal emergency response mechanism; and a lack of clarity as to which siloed humanitarian sector should lead a response. This situation is changing because of greater attention to climate hazards and overall increased near-real-time awareness of this type of extreme event. As a result, more evidence-based guidance is needed on how to manage extreme heat events.

The paper will lay out a hazardscape and geography of extreme heat events from the humanitarian perspective. Using an applied geography approach, the paper proposes practical measures to improve humanitarian sector response to extreme heat hazard events.