Bangkok, Thailand: A community in Bangkok is using scientific data, local risk mapping and emergency preparedness training to protect residents from extreme heat demonstrating how community led initiatives can strengthen urban resilience to rising temperatures.
The initiative in the Mahanak Mosque community, located in Bangkok’s Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, was highlighted during the Global Heat Forum 2026, held from October 6 to 9. Researchers, city officials and development partners visited the neighbourhood on October 7 to understand how scientific heat risk assessments can be translated into practical measures to safeguard vulnerable people.
The community was identified as a heat hotspot through satellite mapping and health risk assessments conducted under a project led by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), with support from the Rockefeller Foundation. The initiative aims to strengthen the ability of at risk urban communities in Thailand to anticipate and respond to climate related health threats.
Implemented in partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and several academic and research institutions, the project uses a Composite Risk Index to assess heat hazards, population exposure, vulnerability and heat related health impacts across Bangkok’s 50 districts and 180 sub districts. The findings provide evidence to help authorities prioritise interventions improve urban planning and guide public health decisions.
To make the information more accessible, ADPC developed the Bangkok Heat Risk Explorer, an interactive geospatial tool that maps heat risks across the city. The project also provides community members with practical training, health kits and first-aid instruction to help them prepare for heat-related emergencies.
During the field visit, participants learned how residents combine scientific information with local knowledge to identify households at greater risk, map neighbourhood level hazards and develop emergency response plans. Activities have included collecting local data, conducting capacity building workshops and organising emergency drills.
Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj ADPC programme manager for air quality and health, said scientific tools can identify areas exposed to extreme heat but residents are best placed to understand the practical challenges of responding to an emergency.
In the Mahanak Mosque community, residents have developed their own maps and plans to identify suitable locations for treating heatstroke patients and determining where ambulances can park to reach people quickly through narrow alleys. Regular drills help community members practise emergency routes and responses, while young volunteer paramedics receive training in patient assessment and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Community leader Saman Mekloai said residents had learned to measure temperatures inside their homes and in surrounding areas using sensors enabling them to monitor local conditions independently.
The community has also created household level temperature maps and identified vulnerable residents including older people, persons with disabilities, bedridden individuals and people with underlying health conditions. Another map identifies routes for transporting patients to designated ambulance pick-up points.
Mekloai said heat health kits and CPR training had strengthened the community’s ability to assist people experiencing heat related emergencies, particularly older residents who may need immediate help.
The initiative addresses challenges common in densely populated urban neighbourhoods, where limited green space and high exposure to heat can intensify existing health and social vulnerabilities. It also highlights the importance of combining citywide scientific assessments with residents’ direct knowledge of local conditions.
The Global Heat Forum field visit brought together representatives from universities, research institutions public health agencies, city networks and civil society organisations. Participants included experts from Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Imperial College London, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, UNICEF Thailand, World Resources Institute and C40 Cities, among others.
The experience demonstrated how accessible risk information, community led mapping, targeted training and regular emergency exercises can turn heat risk assessments into practical protective measures. It also showed how residents can take ownership of preparedness rather than relying exclusively on city authorities or external experts.
Organisers said the approach could offer lessons for other high risk neighbourhoods in Bangkok and beyond. Integrating community initiatives with urban planning and public health systems could help cities better prepare for rising temperatures and ensure that vulnerable residents receive timely assistance during extreme heat events.