With the arrival of beach weather, the threat of climate change looms over summers, transforming them from enjoyable to endurance tests. Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed that 46% of the U.S. will experience above-average temperatures between June and August, with the Southwest facing the most extreme increase.
In response to this threat, eight local governments around the world have appointed chief heat officers (CHOs) to prevent heat waves from turning deadly. The role may have a simple, catchy, and somewhat vague title, but it is clear that addressing heat vulnerability requires addressing inequality. Marta Segura, the chief heat officer of Los Angeles, said, “The solutions that we need are there. We just have to connect them to the areas that most need them.”
Heat-related deaths are typically not recorded as an official cause of death, as they often result in fatal illnesses like heart attacks or strokes. Despite this, a study published in the Journal of Environmental Epidemiology found that at least 5,600 deaths in the 297 most populous U.S. counties could be attributed to heat annually. However, other research suggests that the true number of heat-related deaths in the United States is much higher than previously reported. An investigation by the Center of Public Integrity revealed that heat-related deaths in Arizona have more than doubled in the last decade.
It is the marginalized communities that bear the brunt of heat waves. V. Kelly Turner, an associate professor of urban planning at UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, stated, “If you wanted to be provocative, you could say that extreme heat is the greatest injustice of all because no one dies from extreme heat unless they don’t have the resources to deal with it. It’s the folks who can’t go indoors that are dying.” The lack of shade at bus stops in South Los Angeles leaves residents like Robin Line, a 62-year-old who experiences frequent power outages and water shutoffs, with limited options during scorching heat waves. Higher rates of poverty in certain areas result in temperatures up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit hotter compared to wealthier neighborhoods. These urbanized areas, also known as “heat islands,” are often low-income, racially diverse, and have fewer trees and green spaces. Trees and plants have been shown to reduce peak summer temperatures by 2 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit.
Addressing the heat vulnerability of these communities requires action. UCLA developed a mapping tool to track extreme heat and heat-related emergency room visits, revealing that low-income areas in Los Angeles have the highest rates of ER visits on “heat days.” Chief heat officer Marta Segura has launched the “Heat Relief 4 L.A.” campaign, focusing on spreading awareness about extreme heat in predominantly Latino, Black, and Asian American communities with household incomes below $27,000 per year. Through the campaign, Segura aims to designate libraries and recreational facilities as cooling centers with air conditioning. She has also created an app called Cool Spots, which provides a map of these cool spaces. Additionally, she plans to collaborate with the parks and infrastructure departments to increase tree coverage and develop heat-resilient urban architecture.
The chief heat officer movement is gaining momentum worldwide. The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (Arsht-Rock) at the Atlantic Council played a crucial role in creating the first six CHO positions in Miami, Santiago, Freetown, Athens, Melbourne, and North Dhaka. Notably, all of the initial appointees are women. However, Marta Segura and David Hondula in Phoenix are the first to be born out of city initiatives. Despite the novelty of the CHO role, city heat action plans have been implemented before. Philadelphia launched the “Beat the Heat” campaign in 2018, which involved tree planting, water distribution, and cooling centers. Austin, Texas, created resilience action areas to identify and utilize existing spaces as cooling centers. Chicago took action after a deadly heat wave in 1995, including providing special training for first responders to handle heat-related illnesses.
The challenge lies in effectively communicating the seriousness of heat stress. Unlike earthquakes, hurricanes, or flooding, the public doesn’t have a vivid imagination for heat stress, even though it is more lethal, according to Kelly Sanders, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at USC. However, the simple and catchy title of “chief heat officer” has proven to resonate with people. Segura believes that this title provides a tangible and accessible way for people to understand the issue and take action.
