Community of practice for extreme heat management in public transport systems

Extreme heat affects public transport infrastructure, operations, and ridership in myriad ways. There is an urgent need to take stock of the effects of extreme heat on public transport systems, users, and operators. This CDRI guidance document addresses the growing impact of extreme heat on public transport systems. It outlines challenges, key frameworks, practical recommendations, and real-world examples, providing a roadmap for developing heat-resilient infrastructure. The guidance combines concise insights to support decision-making and promote sustainable, climate-adaptive public transport systems.

The recommendations in this document adopt a systems approach and can be applied across a range of cities with different climates, socio-economic conditions, and infrastructure maturity. In addition to being a guide for governments, this document is also a call to action. It appeals to all international agencies, national and sub-national actors, cities, civil society organizations, and local communities to recognise the urgency and importance of responding to extreme heat impacts on public transit systems and align their work agendas to include this emergent climate change impact.