Futurecasting Cape Town: Tackling heatwaves in Cape Town/

Extreme heat events are on the rise globally, particularly in cities, as a result of climate change. It is expected that in the next 20 years heatwaves will increase in frequency and intensity. Often referred to as the ‘silent killer’, heatwaves are a major threat to human life and wellbeing. According to research undertaken by C40, an international network of cities, “heatwaves are the deadliest of all climate risks”. By 2050, around 970 cities will live with average high temperatures of at least 35°C, with much higher temperatures in Asia, Africa and North America.