2020•08•07     Bonn

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What

UN University heat stress expert available for media interviews

Who

Dr. Simone Sandholz, Senior Scientist, United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)

When

Interviews by appointment (phone, skype or in person)

Why

In the midst of a global pandemic, Europe is now facing heatwaves. Western Europe will see temperatures rising well above 30 degrees Celsius for the weekend and into next week, with forecasts predicting temperatures of 32 degrees or higher everyday for the next several days. While heatwaves in Europe has become a common occurrence every summer, this year it’s straining the resilience of its cities and people already frail from the impacts of COVID-19. Without air-conditioned office spaces to retreat to, people are forced to bear the heat stress in their homes.

Dr. Sandholz is available to answer questions on why we’ve been seeing urban heat stress for many years now, why this phenomenon is especially critical in cities and towns, what cities and individuals can do to protect themselves within the constraints of COVID-19 and physical distancing, and how we need to prepare to deal with heat stress in the future.

Further information

Five facts on heat stress
Heat stress research at UNU-EHS
Dr. Simone Sandholz’s op-eds on heat during a pandemic

For further questions, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Media Hotline
Tel: +49 151 2672 1390
press@ehs.unu.edu 

Janine Kandel
Head of Communication
United Nations University
Institute for Environment and Human Security
Tel: + 49-228-815-0219
kandel@vie.unu.edu
www.ehs.unu.edu

Jimin Hwang
Communication Associate
United Nations University
Institute for Environment and Human Security
Tel + 49-228-815-0285
hwang@vie.unu.edu
www.ehs.unu.edu