Future Heat Risk in South Asia and the Need for Ecosystem Mitigation

Cities in South Asia commonly experience high heat events. These so-called heat waves, however, are increasing in intensity and are projected to increase in frequency, as the climate continues to change. Given the large and growing urban population in the region, urban planners need information on the state and trends of urban heat, the risk of this heat to human wellbeing, and ways to modify heat within the city. This chapter attempts to broadly address these issues by providing an overview of the state and trends of urban heat, urban heat-island formation, urbanization, climate change-related future heat, human risk to heat waves, and the potential for ecosystem mitigation in South Asia. The chapter complements other chapters in this volume by providing the background to the importance of future heat shock events and the potential for blue-green infrastructure to address these hazards.