Heatwaves & extreme weather – SFU experts available

Countries in Europe are battling wildfires and the UK experienced record-breaking temperatures this week. Heatwaves are also occurring in parts of China and the U.S. 

With warmer and drier weather in the forecast next week for British Columbia, experts at Simon Fraser University are available to comment on extreme heat events, including what is needed to adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS

ZAFAR ADEEL, professor, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering & executive director, PWRC (Pacific Water Research Centre) zadeel@sfu.ca

- Climate change adaptation, water security, safe drinking water, integrated water resources management 

ALEX BOSTON, executive director, Renewable Cities, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue a_boston@sfu.ca

- Short & long-term integrated solutions to the climate crisis addressing adaptation, greenhouse gas reductions & building more sustainable cities
- Lessons to be learned from the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, Canada including the impact of extreme temperatures on cities & how to reduce the risks going forward 

JOHN CLAGUE, professor emeritus, Earth Sciences, CRC Chair in Natural Hazard Science jclague@sfu.ca

- The link between heatwaves & climate change

RADOSLAV DIMITROV, associate professor, political science rdimitro@sfu.ca

- Climate change negotiations, UN diplomacy, international institutions and global environmental politics

ANDREANNE DOYON, assistant professor, resource and environmental management andreanne.doyon@sfu.ca

- Planning for/responding to extreme heat (from urban greenery to building retrofits)
- Planning for climate change at the city level 

DEBORAH HARFORD, senior advisor, ACT (Action on Climate Team) and adjunct professor, Faculty of Environment, SFU; climate solutions fellow, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue *Note: Harford is currently in the UK adapt@sfu.ca

- Climate change adaptation, climate risk and low carbon resilience solutions, nature-based solutions, co-benefits including equity & health

ANIL (ANDY) HIRA, professor, political science & lead researcher, CERG (Clean Energy Research Group) anil_hira@sfu.ca

- The disruption of energy security by the Russian war in Ukraine & how this will impact the transition to renewable energy sources
-General unwillingness of governments to take drastic actions needed to reduce emissions, which reflects the inability of voters & consumers to understand the direct impacts climate change will have on their lives  

CONTACT

MELISSA SHAW, SFU  Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | melissa_shaw@sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University
Communications & Marketing |  SFU Media Experts Directory
778.782.3210

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As Canada’s engaged university, SFU works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today’s problems. With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—SFU has eight faculties that deliver 193 undergraduate degree programs and 144 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 170,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.