The United Nations has outlined four major strategies to help countries protect communities from increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves as global temperatures continue to rise. The initiative comes as heat-related deaths have increased by 23% between the 1990s and 2021, reaching an estimated 546,000 deaths annually.
According to the UN, climate change is making extreme heat more severe, creating growing risks for public health, water security, agriculture, and economies worldwide. The organization is working with governments to strengthen climate adaptation through improved access to water, better health preparedness, nature-based solutions, and innovative technologies.
One of the primary priorities is expanding access to safe drinking water. More than 2 billion people worldwide still lack reliable access to safe water, while around half of the global population experiences severe water scarcity during parts of the year. UN-supported projects have improved water access in countries including Bangladesh, Kenya, and Yemen through climate-resilient water systems, solar-powered infrastructure, and emergency water services.
The UN is also strengthening climate-related health services through initiatives such as the Climate-Health Desk, developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The programme provides early warnings and climate information to healthcare providers, helping communities prepare for dangerous heat conditions. Additional support has been provided to hospitals in countries such as Viet Nam and North Macedonia to improve resilience during extreme heat events.
Nature-based solutions remain another important focus of the UN’s climate adaptation efforts. Urban tree planting, green spaces, mangrove restoration, and passive cooling strategies are helping reduce temperatures in cities while improving environmental sustainability. Projects in Jamaica, Brazil, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, and India are promoting greener urban environments to reduce the effects of extreme heat.
The UN is also encouraging the use of innovative climate technologies to improve water management and climate resilience. In Saudi Arabia, advanced water monitoring systems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are helping authorities make more informed decisions on water resource management and climate adaptation.
The organization emphasized that access to clean water, stronger health systems, sustainable urban planning, and modern climate technologies are essential for protecting communities from the growing impacts of extreme heat. As heatwaves become more frequent due to climate change, the UN continues to support countries in building long-term resilience and safeguarding public health.
