An international assessment of heat action plans

Extreme heat events are rising significantly, posing a growing threat to public health in cities worldwide. Heat Action Plans (HAPs) have emerged as a critical tool for cities to proactively prepare for, manage, and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat. This study offers the most comprehensive international assessment of HAPs to date. We analyze the content of local government HAPs worldwide and validate the findings with academic and practice-oriented guidance. We find that cities focus more on heat management strategies than heat mitigation, with emergency preparedness and heat education far outpacing urban greening or waste-heat-reduction measures. Our analysis also reveals heat governance as a third, and previously underemphasized, area of heat action, encompassing: research; planning, policy, and program development; leadership; funding; and community engagement. This study provides a robust evidence base to inform the next generation of HAPs and equips practitioners with actionable insights to refine and strengthen their design, implementation, and evaluation.