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Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines is the podcast series from SmartCitiesWorld and the Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities), delivering frank and open conversations between international city leaders and industry practitioners that share ideas to solve urban challenges. With the world’s cities under pressure to deliver a sustainable future for more than half of the global population – a figure that is consistently trending upwards – the Urban Exchange provides a platform for the people driving urban innovation and change to share their ideas and insights with those that need them most. As cities seek a future that is environmentally, economically, and socially resilient and sustainable, each episode of the podcast plays host to an in-depth conversation between a city leader and a smart city specialist to uncover the initiatives that cities are working on to deliver on these goals.
Episodes
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
In this episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, hosts Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson explore extreme heat in cities worldwide. Joined by Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, former Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, and Nick Jones, Program Lead, Extreme Heat Resilience, at GDFRR and World Bank's City Resilience Program, they unpack a story of urban resilience that began in Ahmedabad and is transforming heat management globally.
When temperatures in Ahmedabad reached 47 degrees Celsius in 2010, causing 800 excess deaths in a week, local leaders developed a response. Dr. Mavalankar shares how they created India's first heat action plan, its role in reducing heat-related mortality, and how it inspired over 250 cities across India to follow. Nick Jones from the World Bank reveals the economic and human impacts of urban heat, showing how rising temperatures threaten labor productivity and community health. The podcast also explores strategies like early warning systems, interventions for vulnerable populations, and the role of Chief Heat Officers.
Tune in to learn about practical solutions – from cooling technologies to community preparedness. The conversation goes beyond statistics, offering a human approach to a critical challenge. Whether you're an urban planner, policymaker, or concerned about climate change, this episode provides insights into how cities can protect residents from extreme heat.
Find out more about the World Bank and GDFRR's City Resilience Program here.
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