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From 2 to 4 June, ADB’s Gender Equality Division (CCGE) convened a regional meeting, Rising Heat, Rising Action: Solutions for Women in a Warming World in Bangkok. The event brought together over 140 policymakers, researchers, and climate innovators from seven developing member countries for three powerful days of learning, exchange, and momentum-building.

From inspiring keynotes to dynamic breakout sessions, stories from the frontlines of extreme heat, and an interactive exhibition, participants explored how increasing temperatures are reshaping lives—particularly for women— and how to respond. Discussions centered on bold strategies and innovation for heat action planning, gender-responsive urban design, nature-based solutions, early warning systems, and protecting livelihoods in a warming world.

Access event materials

DAY 1
Setting the
Stage

DAY 2
Exploring Solutions
& Tools

DAY 3
Inspiring Action
& Commitment

We’re sharing these presentations and recordings to support shared learning and spark new ideas. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. We hope the content inspires fresh thinking and meaningful conversations beyond the regional meeting.

Exhibit Showcase

The event featured exhibits that explored how extreme heat is disrupting lives and livelihoods, and how gender-responsive solutions can help communities adapt.
Through interactive stations and visual displays, participants engaged with key challenges and emerging approaches for strengthening heat resilience across Asia and the Pacific.

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS ROOM
Build A Cooler Future

In a city-building tile exercise, participants designed urban spaces with trees, water, green spaces, and cooling features, balancing nature-based solutions with the needs of women, caregivers, informal workers, and other vulnerable groups.

HEAT ACTION PLANS ROOM
Flip the Script

Using a flip-tile wall, participants explored how gender considerations can strengthen Heat Action Plans by addressing the ways extreme heat affects women and vulnerable groups, and contributed ideas to make plans more inclusive and gender-responsive.

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS ROOM
Can You Decode the Warning?

With a red filter tool, participants decoded unclear heat warnings to reveal how they leave women and vulnerable groups at risk, and saw how clear, actionable messages help communities prepare for and respond to extreme heat.

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS ROOM
RainbirdGeo App Demo

In a live demonstration, participants tested RainbirdGEO’s early warning system app to see how localized, real-time heat alerts support timely action and informed decision-making for women and vulnerable communities during extreme heat.

Beyond the breakout rooms, these displays shed light on how extreme heat shapes the lives of women and communities across Asia and the Pacific, and underscored the need for inclusive, gender-responsive action.

Mantra Mirrors
Reflective prompts and shared calls to action on building inclusive resilience in a warming world.

Swiveling Photo Wall
Snapshots from six countries showing how women experience extreme heat across Asia and the Pacific.

Data Wall
Key figures and insights on gender, heat stress, and resilience from across the region.

Photo Exhibit
Images that challenge myths about water, heat, and women’s vulnerability in a changing climate.

Additional Resources
Browse materials and reflections that highlight efforts to strengthen women’s resilience to extreme heat in the region.

VIDEO
The Heat We Bear

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, where summers are getting hotter and relief is hard to come by, women are bearing the brunt, struggling to work, study, and care for their families in the grip of the heat.

This short film by award-winning visual journalist Fabeha Monir captures their stories told in their own words, from the everyday spaces where extreme heat disrupts daily life.

Filmed as part of our work on strengthening women’s resilience to heat stress, it offers a rare, ground-level look at what it takes to get through each sweltering day— and why urgent, gender-responsive solutions can’t wait.

COMMUNITY VOICE
Centering Women in Climate Resilience

Reflecting on the Regional Meeting, Sono Aibe, Principal Consultant at CHED Solutions, shares why heat resilience must begin by centering women in policy, finance, and innovation— and urges a shift toward solutions shaped for and by those most affected.

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ADB DATA ROOM
Strengthening Women's Resilience to Extreme Heat

Updates, insights, and materials from ADB’s work on women and extreme heat, including technical assistance highlights, blogs, reports, event recordings, and knowledge products.

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INFOGRAPHIC
Extreme Heat, Regional Impacts, and Why We Need Gender-Transformative Heat Action Plans

A visual snapshot of extreme heat’s impacts across Asia and the Pacific — and why gender-transformative Heat Action Plans are urgently needed.

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MICROSITE
Rising Above the Heat

An interactive resource that unpacks the drivers of extreme heat, its impacts on women and vulnerable groups, and the gender-responsive solutions needed to strengthen resilience in a rapidly warming world.

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DAY 1 Setting theStage

DAY 2 Exploring Solutions & Tools

DAY 3 Inspiring Action& Commitment

Exhibit Showcase

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS ROOMBuild A Cooler Future

HEAT ACTION PLANS ROOMFlip the Script

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS ROOMCan You Decode the Warning?

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS ROOMRainbirdGeo App Demo

Additional ResourcesBrowse materials and reflections that highlight efforts to strengthen women’s resilience to extreme heat in the region.

VIDEOThe Heat We Bear

COMMUNITY VOICECentering Women in Climate Resilience

ADB DATA ROOMStrengthening Women's Resilience to Extreme Heat

INFOGRAPHICExtreme Heat, Regional Impacts, and Why We Need Gender-Transformative Heat Action Plans

MICROSITERising Above the Heat

DAY 1
Setting the
Stage

DAY 2
Exploring Solutions
& Tools

DAY 3
Inspiring Action
& Commitment

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS ROOM
Build A Cooler Future

HEAT ACTION PLANS ROOM
Flip the Script

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS ROOM
Can You Decode the Warning?

EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS ROOM
RainbirdGeo App Demo

Additional Resources
Browse materials and reflections that highlight efforts to strengthen women’s resilience to extreme heat in the region.

VIDEO
The Heat We Bear

COMMUNITY VOICE
Centering Women in Climate Resilience

ADB DATA ROOM
Strengthening Women's Resilience to Extreme Heat

INFOGRAPHIC
Extreme Heat, Regional Impacts, and Why We Need Gender-Transformative Heat Action Plans

MICROSITE
Rising Above the Heat