Heat and Health In Brazilian Cities
A SALURBAL-Climate partnership with the World Resources Institute
Summary
In partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and WRI-Brasil, members of the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative and SALURBAL are studying the ways social factors and built environments contribute to health impacts of extreme heat across neighborhoods in Belo Horizonte and Campinas, Brazil.
This three-year (2024-2027) multi-sector research, policy, and community engagement collaboration is funded by the Wellcome Trust's Climate Impacts Awards.
Brazil is home to the largest urban population in Latin America, and Brazilian cities account for the greatest burden of heat-related deaths among cities in the region. "Heat and Health in Brazilian Cities" leverages previous efforts by WRI and SALURBAL, along with WRI-Brasil's extensive network of local policy and community stakeholders. The research project focuses on providing robust public health data to inform the design and implementation of actions to reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality, especially amongst the most at-risk and vulnerable populations.
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Local Engagement
In 2024, the Heat and Health in Brazilian Cities project conducted its first technical visit to Campinas, where researchers met with local government staff and community members to align the project's goals with local government priorities. In early 2025, a second visit demonstrated the project's progress on mapping and identifying heat-vulnerable neighborhoods in Campinas, and presented the findings to a wider audience of community members and policymakers.
During Environment Week in June 2025, SALURBAL researchers joined public discussions in Campinas and Belo Horizonte, engaging community members, practitioners, government representatives, and academics to raise awareness and associated health risks across neighborhoods in each city. These events highlighted awareness of heat-related health challenges and generated ongoing opportunities for the project team to connect with stakeholders. Additional public engagement events planned for late 2025.
Acknowledgements
SALURBAL Collaborators:
Partners:
