Asia can lead the way in combating extreme heat

A report by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2023 identified Asia as the most disaster-prone region in the world.

Of the many different types of extreme weather events resulting from global warming, heatwaves are among the deadliest, claiming hundreds or thousands of lives across the world every year.

Asia has witnessed extreme heat in recent years, including temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius in several places in the past few months alone.

A recent report by IPE Global and Esri India highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves, particularly in tropical regions like India, due to rising global temperatures and atmospheric humidity.

Many Asian countries face significant challenges in managing extreme heat events due to limitations in their infrastructure. Densely populated cities like Delhi and Jakarta lack adequate insulation and cooling systems, intensifying indoor heat stress.

Heat waves adversely affect not only human health and livelihoods but also biodiversity and the ecological balance of land and water bodies.

Their impact has recently been exacerbated by the El-Nino phenomenon, which reached a moderate-to-strong status across the Asia-Pacific region between July 2023 and May 2024.

Given these trends, there is an urgent need for measures to adapt and build resilience to heatwaves. By focusing on sustainable urban planning, climate-resilient infrastructure, and the nexus of technology and financing, Asian countries can better manage the impacts of extreme heat.

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Exacerbating economic costs for vulnerable populations

The International Labour Organisation projects that heat stress could lead to the loss of 80 million full-time jobs globally by 2030. Many members of the informal labour force, the majority of them women, often continue to work in oppressive heat out of fear of losing their income.

Usually, they are ill-informed about the long-term health implications of that decision. Farmers also lose income due to reduced agricultural productivity, water scarcity, and droughts.

Extreme heat also threatens the lives and livelihoods of the elderly, children, and members of low-income communities, and worsens the precarious living conditions of displaced people, migrants, and refugees.

Greener cities and cleaner energy for a cooler future

Apart from Singapore, urban design in Asian countries often neglects green spaces and climate resilience, giving rise to the ‘urban heat island effect’ that increases local temperatures. In rural areas, public health facilities are found wanting in their ability to provide proper care during heat-related emergencies.​

Effective urban planning through the integration of more green spaces and utilisation of reflective building materials is essential to adapt to urban heat whilst improving air quality. Globally, efforts to build climate resilient cities are gaining momentum.

The USAID-funded Asia Resilient Cities project addresses cross-cutting urban development challenges in Asian cities. Similarly, the C40 Cities initiative is working with city administrators to integrate climate action into governance, planning, and decision-making for various aspects of civic infrastructure. 

In the meantime, to escape the heat, people are increasingly turning to cooling appliances. This leads to greater electricity consumption and a heavier burden on energy grids. Therefore, deploying renewable energy, battery energy storage systems and employing energy-efficient appliances is pivotal.

Tech-driven insights to shape climate action

Today, artificial intelligence (AI)-based predictive analytics are being used to develop heat-resistant crops that can sustain rising temperatures. Google AI is predicting natural disasters like floods and wildfires and providing real-time data to devise effective response strategies.

Organisations like Digital Futures Lab and CivicDataLab are leveraging data and AI to help leaders and policymakers design timely, impactful interventions and create data-driven climate solutions.

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Innovating policy and governance to elevate climate financing

The governments of many Asian countries recognise the need to strengthen and solidify their policy frameworks for climate resilience. They are looking at designing heat action plans and early warning systems for better disaster preparedness.

However, this cannot be achieved without bringing in a broad array of stakeholders and driving private sector participation and concessional financing to vulnerable nations and communities.

For instance, The Nepal Economic Forum, in collaboration with Himalayan Everest Insurance and The Rockefeller Foundation, has launched parametric insurance for communities in the Himalayan region.

In India, the Self-Employed Women's Association has similarly developed parametric insurance products to provide financial protection for women in agriculture against extreme weather events.

Developed nations must support susceptible nations through finance and technology. De-risking investments through innovative financing mechanisms and reforming multilateral development banks could give them an important nudge in this direction.

Governments, philanthropies, and private players need to take quick and decisive action in view of the climate crisis. Mitigating heatwaves and adapting to them is the collective responsibility of a multitude of stakeholders: individuals, conglomerates, NGOs, governments, banks, and philanthropies.

Asia’s management of heatwaves is not only vital for its people but could also serve as a beacon for the rest of the world.

As The Rockefeller Foundation’s chief representative in Asia, Deepali Khanna oversees efforts to amplify the Foundation’s impact and initiatives to make opportunities universal and sustainable. She leads the efforts of the Asia Regional Office team to build and sustain networks with different institutions, leverage financing and collaborations, innovative grants, thought leadership and information on trends driving the Asian continent’s development.