Despite lacking political power, officials tasked with tackling extreme heat offer life-saving solutions for rising temperatures across U.S. cities.
Zoya Teirstein reports for Grist.
In short:
- Recent years have seen record-high global temperatures, with the U.S. experiencing unprecedented heat waves threatening human health and infrastructure.
- Cities appoint chief heat officers to address the crisis, proposing solutions like tree-planting and public education on heat risks, but these officers lack authority to enforce policies.
- While some states resist implementing heat protections, others, like California, lead in adopting standards to safeguard workers and residents.
Key quote:
"There's very little authority behind these positions."
— Richard C. Keller, historian of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Why this matters:
As climate change exacerbates extreme heat, cities face rising threats to public health, infrastructure and safety. Appointed officials play a crucial role in developing strategies to mitigate these impacts but need political support and resources to implement effective measures.
