Extreme Heat Expert

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) seeks a consultant to support global and country-level programs focused on extreme heat and sustainable cooling. This role is within the Buildings and Cooling Unit of the Mitigation Branch, Climate Change Division, and will involve significant liaison with UNEP offices in Asia-Pacific and India. The consultant will provide expert insights and handholding to adapt cities to rising temperatures.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this role is to provide expert technical and analytical support to UNEP in designing and implementing global and country-specific projects on sustainable urban cooling and extreme heat adaptation. The consultant will engage with partners and cities to enhance subnational commitments, particularly in India, under the Cool Coalition framework. This involves delivering technical inputs, training, and support for policy dialogues and assessments. The role contributes to integrating heat adaptation strategies into urban plans, developing training programs, and supporting funding proposals, ultimately aiming to build resilience against extreme heat impacts in urban environments.

Responsibilities

Provide expert insights and handholding on evaluating urban heat island effects and developing adaptation strategies for cities, including urban planning, nature-based solutions, passive cooling, and heat governance. Integrate best practices for sustainable cooling and extreme heat into national and subnational implementation activities, policy documents, planning guidelines, and training programs. Support the global design and implementation of country projects on sustainable urban cooling and extreme heat adaptation, engaging partners and cities to increase subnational commitments. Deliver technical inputs, training, and support for policy dialogues and technical assessments on sustainable cooling and extreme heat in cities. Assist UNEP global teams, the UNEP India office, and national ministries in designing and delivering support programs for cities on extreme heat. Develop and deliver training programs on extreme heat impacts and adaptation. Support the integration of heat adaptation through sustainable cooling into subnational climate and urban plans, and assist with funding proposals. Engage with technical partners and cities participating in initiatives like the Beat the Heat Initiative and Nature for Cooling project.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience, with a focus on extreme heat, cooling, urban planning, and the environment. Essential practical experience in India, including policy analysis and design, city engagement, and urban heat island analysis. Experience working with diverse ministries, states, cities, and international organizations is also essential.

Skills

Expertise in extreme heat and sustainable cooling. Urban planning and design. Environmental engineering. Policy analysis and design. City engagement. Urban heat island analysis. Training and capacity building. Project design and implementation. Stakeholder engagement. Familiarity with international organizations and diverse governmental levels.

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