The IFRC urban innovations event focusing on cross-cutting collaboration in addressing heatwaves will utilize mixed-methods, including a panel discussion, case-studies, video clips, and a game. This event will take a closer look at the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) involvement and partnerships in urban work in Vietnam, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka to address extreme heat through innovative multi-stakeholder approaches with governments and other networks. These approaches include Forecast-based Financing (FbF) in Hanoi designed to release funding for selected early actions ahead of a heatwave, collaborating with the Met department for the timing of IEC materials distribution, and leveraging traditional design knowledge in Colombo. Behaviour change communication for heatwaves, also known as the “silent killer”, requires creativity in conveying – at the most relevant times – the seriousness and severity this disaster poses to at-risk groups, including low-income groups, elderly, children, and people with disabilities. Urban design and planning play a key role in reducing heat-related deaths as the built environment can both contribute to and mitigate the urban heat-island-effect. The other themes highlighted during this dynamic event will include data and technologies for Smart Cities, mentioning the IFRC reference centres’ innovations including apps/messaging platforms and urban guidance rolled out with local actors. Our session will showcase innovations and the overarching connections between science-policy-practice in addressing extreme heat through every vehicle mentioned. Our session will close off with a game that highlights the inequity in how heat impacts individuals according to characteristics that include location, gender, socioeconomic status, age, and profession.

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