How effective are heat risk management strategies in South Asian cities? A systematic review of literature

Residents in South Asian cities are already facing devastating heatwaves; and at global warming of 2°C, their exposure to heat stress is set to triple. Limiting warming to 1.5°C may halve this impact, but deadly heat stress could become commonplace, especially in urban centers (Ashfaq et al., 2021). In the face of escalating climate change, urban environments and human settlements are focal points for effective climate solutions (IPCC, 2022). Prior research has identified various technologies and strategies to manage extreme heat and showcased instances of adaptation by individuals, communities, and governmental stakeholders. However, a comprehensive understanding of the overall effectiveness of these implemented heat adaptation actions is lacking. This systematic literature review fills this gap by examining the efficacy of different heat risk management solutions—specifically, nature-based, technological, informational, and structural interventions—implemented in South Asian cities.

Using PRISMA guidelines, the review assesses current evidence to examine how much heat risk is reduced, and for whom. Care is taken to examine outcomes across spatial and temporal dimensions, assessing the varied impacts of heat solutions across different climatic zones, and potential adaptation limits to heat risk management. We also examine whether processes underpinning heat risk management (e.g., public participation, complex risk assessments) lead to more effective solutions. Evaluating the effectiveness of heat adaptation solutions can contribute to climate-resilient urban environments as well as inform urban policymakers on which solutions to prioritise in the short and long-term.