Heat Care Project at SEACO

With heat exposure projected to intensify over the coming decades, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions like Southeast Asia, the health impact is expected to be profound. In Malaysia alone, heat-related deaths are predicted to surge by 295% by 2030, driven by more frequent heatwaves, severe rainstorms, and tropical cyclones.

To address these pressing challenges, Professor Karin Leder is part of the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) collaboration led by Monash Malaysia, which aims to deliver cutting-edge climate and health research to protect vulnerable communities from extreme heat.

The goal of this research is to enhance heat health literacy and build and test structural interventions, such as passive cooling technologies, to reduce indoor heat exposure. These strategies are designed to mitigate the adverse health effects of rising temperatures, safeguarding at-risk populations across Southeast Asia.