Integrated Research and Action for Development was selected to organize a UNFCCC side event on “Locally Determined Choices for Nationally Determined Contributions- Addressing Heat Equity through Vulnerable community focused Heat Adaptation Plans”, @ COP 27 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

• Session Chair:

Dr Linda Anne Stevenson, Head of Knowledge Management and Scientific Affairs at the APN Secretariat

• Opening Remarks:

Dr Jyoti Parikh, Executive Director, IRADe

• Inaugural Remarks:

Mr Santiago Alba Corral, Director, Climate-Resilient Food Systems program, IDRC

• Lead Presentation:

Mr Rohit Magotra, Deputy Director IRADe.

• Panelists:

Ms Bijal Brahmbhatt , Director, Mahila Housing Trust (MHT)

Ms Rajeswari Gorana, Consultant , Mahila Housing Trust

Dr Jyoti Parikh, welcomed the panelists, she shared about IRADe's work as an independent research-based think tank in the areas of Sustainable Urban Development, Energy & Power systems, Climate change and Environment, Poverty Alleviation & Gender, Agriculture & food security which are some of the challenges of the 21st century. IRADe has been working on the aspects of Climate mitigation, adaptation, and negotiations for last 20 years. She highlighted that Climate Change is becoming bigger and complex and therefore actions are required at home, ward, Municipal, state, regional, National and International levels.

Dr Linda Anne Stevenson, welcomed the panelists. She set the context of the session and informed about IRADe's work on Climate Adaptive Gender Sensitive Heat Action Plans in South Asia. She added that APN supported this project to address the gaps in the research around heat waves and it’s impacts in South Asia. She highlighted that heat stress will drive more inequality in developing countries of the world so there is a need to focus on the impacts of heat stress on vulnerable communities, their heat adaptation needs, and solutions to address heat Equity from Global South and North.

Mr Santiago Alba Corral gave the inaugural remarks. He shared information about IDRC initiatives on a balanced portfolio of research training policy, influencing public awareness in particular. He quoted IPCC reports on rising global temperature and severity of heat waves. The severity of heat waves is rising and it is affecting cities more due to the Urban Heat Island Effects. He appreciated extraordinary impact of IRADe work on IDRC funded project on Climate adaptive action plans to manage heat stress in Indian cities of Rajkot, Bhubaneshwar & . He cited that the project influenced policy not only at at municipal level but also at state, national and regional level. The project created impact on systems, processes, capacity building tools and building Early Warning systems for building preparedness of the Urban Local Bodies. The rising global temperature is increasing the amount of severity of heat waves in India. The severity of heat waves is rising and it is affecting cities more due to the Urban Heat Island Effects. Incidents of heat stress are becoming more frequent, intense and longer. Heat Action Plans should be focused on vulnerable populations especially low Income Groups in the cities.

Mr Rohit Magotra, presented about the scale of the impacts of heat stress globally. His presentation focused on impacts of heat stress on vulnerable communities, heat adaptation needs and solutions to address heat equity. He quoted that heat stress induced deaths in 2100 are estimated to be 100 per 10000 in lower income groups. Lost productivity from heat stress is valued at 4.2 Trillion USD by 2030. Lost Productivity and health impacts of heat stress will drive more inequality in developing countries of the world. He shared methodology about design and implementation of ward level gender sensitive heat action plans in the cities of Rajkot, Bhubaneshwar and Delhi. Heat Action Plans need to be focused on vulnerable communities and equity issues are important to be addressed as low Income groups living in urban slums are most vulnerable to heat stress.

Ms Bijal Brahmbhatt talked about Heat Adaptation solutions for the vulnerable poor. MHT's Research found that Inadequate roofing material like tin, cement leads to an increase of 5-6 degree temperature in the houses as compared to outside temperature. Communication is an important factor to understand the issues of vulnerable communities. They themselves need to assess and understand the vulnerabilities related to heat like loss in productivity, livelihood and health issues. She talked about the Cool roof initiatives undertaken by MHT and the communities. Due to certain community interventions, the results in India are very impressive as there has been a decline in heat related mortality and morbidity rates. Early Warning system and heat wave forecasts have also improved and there has been an awareness in the communities regarding Heat prevention

Ms Rajeswari Gorana, shared MHTs on-ground experiences on Heat Stress. Heat action plans should be an extension and not limiting. Heat action plans do need to broaden their scope and include greener areas - much cooler and less carbon emissions. For vulnerable poor communities, affordability, adequacy and willingness of a solution is really important. There is a need of behavior change in communications for the communities as well as the solution providers. She also cited the need of market based solutions which can be scaled for broader impacts for addressing heat equity.

The session ended with a vote of thanks from the chair, Dr Linda Anne Stevenson.

(From L-R: Mr Santiago Alba Corral, Ms Bijal Brahmbhatt, Ms Rajeswari Gorana, Dr Linda Anne Stevenson)