In a monumental effort to address the pressing issue of extreme heat, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are set to convene the inaugural Global Summit on Extreme Heat.
Scheduled for March 28, 2024, at 8:30 AM ET, this groundbreaking virtual summit aims to unite global leaders and influencers in a crucial dialogue on combating the impacts of extreme heat on communities and workers worldwide.
Leading the charge will be USAID Administrator Samantha Power and IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain, alongside a distinguished lineup of government and private sector figures from around the world.
Notable attendees include NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad and the Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, all of whom are actively spearheading innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of extreme heat events and enhance climate resilience efforts globally.
The urgency of addressing extreme heat cannot be overstated. With 2023 registering as the hottest year on record, accompanied by deadly heatwaves sweeping across continents from Pakistan to Tunisia to Texas, the imperative for action has never been clearer. Alarmingly, the past decade (2014-2023) has witnessed the 10 hottest years on record, with scientists warning of continued temperature escalation. Such extreme heat events not only claim lives directly but also exacerbate other climate-related disasters such as droughts and wildfires.
The virtual summit, to be held online, will be accessible to the public via live streaming. Interested participants can register and access further details at www.USAID.gov/HeatSummit. This landmark event
