The following post summarizes recommended actions for the general public during high temperatures and heat waves due to global climate change:
The WHO advises the public to undertake specific measures to ensure safety and well-being in response to increasing temperatures. First, efforts need to be made to avoid heat exposure. Individuals are advised to refrain from going outdoors or engaging in strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.
Finding shade is essential, as outdoor temperatures can be perceived as 10–15˚C higher in direct sunlight. Spending two to three hours in a cool environment during the day can significantly mitigate heat stress. Staying aware of official heat warnings is critical for safety and preparedness.
Another critical step is maintaining a cool living environment. Opening windows after dark can help lower indoor temperatures effectively by using the cooler night air. Conversely, keeping windows closed and covered during the day when outdoor temperatures surpass indoor levels helps mitigate heat risks.
Only use electric fans when temperatures remain below 40˚C (104˚F). With air conditioning, setting the thermostat to 27˚C (81˚F) and supplementing it with an electric fan can reduce the perceived temperature by 4˚C — potentially reducing electricity costs for cooling by up to 70%.
More in the next post about climate risk, climate change, high temperatures, and heat waves…
(Source: www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health)
© 2025 WHO.
ClimaTwin® is a B2B SaaS solution that empowers stakeholders to assess the physical and financial impacts of future weather and climate extremes on infrastructure assets and the built environment.
Ready to get started? To learn more about how ClimaTwin can help you assess the physical and financial impacts of future weather and climate extremes on your infrastructure assets and investment portfolios, please visit www.climatwin.com today.
© 2025 ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin® is a registered trademark of ClimaTwin Corp. The ClimaTwin logos, ClimaTwin Solutions™, and Future-proofing assets today for tomorrow’s climate extremes™ are trademarks of ClimaTwin Corp. All rights reserved.
###
