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10

Nov

CITIES UNDER HEAT: Urban Heatwaves in Europe and South Asia

10 November 2026 15:00 to 17:00 |
Aerial view of a densely populated city under a hazy sky, highlighting urban density and the effects of heat and air pollution in the built environment.

Join SASNET and UPF Lund for a public symposium exploring how cities are responding to rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heatwaves. Leading experts from academia and practice will discuss urban heat, climate adaptation and resilience in Europe and South Asia. How can cities prepare for a hotter future and protect vulnerable communities as extreme heat becomes an increasingly urgent challenge?

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, posing growing challenges for cities around the world. Recent summers have seen record-breaking temperatures and severe heat impacts across Europe, while many cities in South Asia continue to face extreme and prolonged heat exposure. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable due to dense populations, built environments and unequal access to resources and cooling infrastructure.

This public symposium brings together experts working on urban climate adaptation, governance and sustainability. Through short presentations and a panel discussion, the speakers will share perspectives on how cities in Europe and South Asia can respond to rising temperatures, strengthen resilience and address the social and environmental impacts of extreme heat. The symposium will also explore what lessons can be learned across regions as cities face a warming future.

Speakers and panelists


Radhika Khosla
Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, with research focusing on climate change, urbanisation and sustainable development.

Nausheen Anwar
Researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), with research focusing on urban governance, climate adaptation and sustainable cities.

Neha Mehta
Founder and CEO of FemTech Partners, whose work focuses on climate resilience, sustainable finance and innovation. She examines how governance, financing mechanisms and technology can support climate adaptation and more resilient urban futures.

Maryam Nastar
Researcher at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), with research focusing on urban sustainability, climate resilience and environmental governance.

Chair

Catarina Kinnvall, Director of SASNET

Format

The symposium will begin with short presentations from the invited speakers, followed by a moderated panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing cities in a warming world.

The symposium is organised by SASNET in collaboration with the Association of Foreign Affairs (UPF Lund) and welcomes researchers, students, policymakers and members of the public interested in climate change, urban development and South Asia.

The seminar will be followed by non-alcoholic sparkling wine and canapés.

Everyone is warmly welcome!

About the event

Location:

TBA

Contact:

Catarina [dot] Kinnvall [at] svet [dot] lu [dot] se