The BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University has joined a major regional initiative aimed at strengthening responses to extreme heat across South Asia, becoming the only institution from Bangladesh in its core coordinating group.

The South Asia Heat and Health Hub brings together leading research, policy, and development organisations to address the growing health risks associated with rising temperatures. The initiative seeks to improve coordination, enhance early warning systems, and support countries in protecting vulnerable populations from extreme heat.

Hosted by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water in New Delhi, the hub operates under the Global Heat Health Information Network and is supported by Wellcome through the WHO–WMO Climate and Health Joint Programme.

The initiative is coordinated by five organisations: CEEW, Sustainable Futures Collaborative, Natural Resources Defense Council, BRAC JPGSPH, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. It will also work closely with technical partners such as the Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology and the India Meteorological Department to strengthen heat forecasting and early warning systems across the region.

South Asia remains one of the regions most vulnerable to extreme heat, with temperatures rising faster than the global average. Increasing exposure is already affecting public health, productivity, and urban systems, particularly in densely populated countries like Bangladesh. Recent trends indicate a steady rise in perceived temperatures, placing additional pressure on health systems.

Through this initiative, the hub will focus on strengthening heat–health early warning systems, developing evidence-based heat action plans, improving regional coordination and information sharing, and scaling effective interventions.

The platform is expected to engage more than 60 institutions and train over 500 professionals across South Asia in the coming years.

Dr Farzana Misha, Associate Professor and Lead of the Climate Change, Environment and Health Hub at BRAC JPGSPH, said extreme heat is already impacting daily life across the region. She noted that the initiative would help translate research into practical solutions to protect at-risk communities through regional collaboration.

The BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health is recognised as a leading public health institution in Bangladesh, focusing on equitable, evidence-based approaches to major health challenges through research, education, and policy engagement.