Managing Extreme Heat in Urban Areas: Recommendations for a National Heat Risk Strategy, Policy Brief

Effective adaptation in urban areas to climate risks such as extreme heat requires a cohesive, unified response involving multiple stakeholders representing all sectors affected – local, regional, and national government; health (public health, social services, nursing homes, and hospitals); transport (road, rail, and air); emergency services/first responders; utilities (energy and water); building and architecture; food and agriculture; and digital infrastructure providers. Heat must also be considered as a year-round issue, particularly in (1) certain buildings designed to retain heat during winter, which can inadvertently overheat even in milder temperatures, and (2) settings that house vulnerable populations, such as schools, care homes, and prisons. Only then can resilience to climate shocks such as extreme heat be ensured for the future. In this policy brief, we provide six recommendations for a National Heat Risk Strategy that offers a unified framework for preparedness, response, and adaptation, ensuring that resources are distributed equitably, vulnerabilities are addressed systematically, and best practices are shared across the country. Who is the policy brief for? The policy brief is for decision-makers in cities and countries around the world who are trying to devise and implement ways to improve preparedness to extreme heat. We envisage that stakeholders involved in climate change, environment, planning, ecology, health, transport, food and agriculture, energy, water, ICT, infrastructure, building and architecture will find the recommendations useful.