Webinar on Extreme Heat in Informal Settlements Durban

Extreme heat in informal settlements Key findings from the 2024-2025 eThekwini Informal Settlement Heat Stress Study Inside eThekwini’s informal settlements, extreme indoor heat is affecting health, income and daily life. Homes don’t cool down, even at night, affecting sleep, work and school performance, and caregivers, mostly women, face the strain of caring for babies, older relatives and ill family members, those most vulnerable to heat stress. Official weather station temperature data is not capturing the actual experience of residents inside their homes, where high temperatures and humidity lead to extremely dangerous conditions. As heatwaves get hotter, especially with the upcoming super El-Nino, and the cumulative effects of climate hazards are felt, urgent action is required. This webinar will share the findings from the 2024–2025 eThekwini Informal Settlement Heat Stress Study, conducted by the University of Cape Town, University of Exeter and Project Empower, where heat stress data was recorded using indoor heat sensors during the summer of 2024/25. The study forms part of the multi-country, pan-African Palm-Trees project, run by Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE). These findings have clear implications for human settlement and health policy, disaster management frameworks, operations management, municipal planning and community services. Planning for heat extremes and the impact of higher temperatures on vulnerable populations in informal settlements at municipal and national government level is imperative and needs collective action and support for change. Who should attend? We invite those in our research community, local and national government officials, representatives from relevant NGOs, community support and mass-based organisations, practitioners in the fields of disaster management, health and housing, journalists and anyone interested in the impact that extreme heat will have on our communities in the years to come. Speakers: 1. Dr Ross Blamey, South African climate scientist and Senior Research Officer in the Department of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Topic: Overview of heat stress and physical findings from the study 2. Professor Rajen Naidoo, Professor and Head of Department in Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Topic: Health impacts of heat stress 3. Mabel Ndlovu, Early Career Researcher in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Topic: Impacts on lived experiences from eThekwini informal settlement study 4. Prathijna Poonacha, interdisciplinary researcher, practitioner, and assistant professor at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) whose work focuses on urban climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, livelihood transitions, and the built environment. Topic: Lessons from Indian cities Facilitated by: Dr Andy Gibbs, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Exeter, UK, and holds an Honorary Appointment at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The 4 x 5-7 -minute talks will be followed by a Question and Answer session. Date: 30 September 2026