Extreme Heat: How Major Cities, Including NYC, Are Responding in the Era of Climate Change

By JR Holguin

BROOKLYN, NY: As extreme heat incidents surge across the country, officials from three major U.S. cities – Phoenix, Miami, and Los Angeles – convened in a recent virtual news conference by the Ethnic Media Services (EMS) to spotlight their individual strategies to tackle the heat menace.

A Startling Surge in Heat-Related Deaths

The grim statistics lay bare the reality: extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. Cities like Miami, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, owing to their specific climatic challenges, have become beacons of innovative countermeasures against the repercussions of extreme heat. Officials such as Miami-Dade County’s Jane Gilbert, Phoenix’s David Angula, and Los Angeles’s Martha Segura are spearheading these efforts.

Between 2004 and 2021, the nation saw a staggering 439% increase in heat-related deaths, from 297 to 1,600. Further heightening concerns, provisional 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates 1,714 deaths from heat-related causes.

A Closer Look at New York City’s Heat Challenges

The Health Department’s recent unveiling of the 2022 NYC Heat-Related Mortality Report gives a clearer understanding of the toll heat is taking on New Yorkers. Yearly, an estimated 370 city dwellers succumb to heat, with 360 of these deaths exacerbated by existing chronic conditions and ten directly caused by heat stress.

Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Health Commissioner, reminds New Yorkers to seek refuge during hot spells, emphasizing communal support: “Be a buddy — take care of one another by checking in on family, friends, and neighbors to ensure they have a plan to stay cool.” The report illuminates that structural racism and historical disinvestment have led to heat-exacerbated deaths disproportionately impacting Black New Yorkers.

NYC has been proactive in its response to this growing issue. The City has initiated programs like painting cool roofs, tree planting, and establishing cool outdoor spaces. Low-income New Yorkers can avail themselves of free air conditioners through the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Further fortifying the community spirit, the Be a Buddy Program provides hyperlocal networks supporting New Yorkers during heat emergencies. Launched as part of the Cool Neighborhoods NYC strategy, this initiative has positively impacted community relationships.

Cities Paving the Way Forward

Los Angeles’s Martha Segura delves into her City’s endeavors to combat heat through infrastructure adaptation and community collaboration. She said, “We’ve been investing in equitable decarbonization of our buildings, transportation, and energy systems. Collaboration with community leaders, especially those on the frontline, is pivotal.”

Jane Gilbert of Miami emphasized their extensive efforts, spanning from weatherization programs to enhancing the City’s green cover. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s David Angula addressed the intersecting challenges of homelessness and heat, underscoring the crucial role of cooling centers.

To gain a more in-depth understanding of the mitigation strategies proposed by the speakers from Phoenix, Miami, and Los Angeles, let’s delve further into their shared insights:

Los Angeles

• Infrastructure Modification: In the wake of record-breaking heatwaves, Los Angeles is undertaking rigorous changes to the City’s infrastructure.
• Equitable Decarbonization: The City is investing in decarbonizing its buildings, transportation, and energy systems. By shifting to more sustainable methods, Los Angeles aims to reduce its carbon footprint and, in turn, decrease the heat-island effect common in urban environments.
• Community Collaboration: An emphasizes the need to work hand-in-hand with community leaders, especially those directly affected by the changing climate. Engaging community leaders ensures the City’s plans are inclusive and address the real needs of its residents.
• Integrating City Planning: Highlighting the importance of combining various city planning agendas to optimize resources in battling the effects of climate change.
• Cooling Centers: Recognizing the immediate threat extreme heat poses to vulnerable populations, Los Angeles underscores the importance of cooling centers. These centers serve as safe havens, offering refuge to those without the means to cool themselves during extreme heatwaves.

Miami

• Public Engagement: Miami’s strategies span from “informing, preparing, and protecting” its citizens.
• Weatherization Program: Miami has amplified its weatherization efforts, which involve modifying buildings to protect against extreme weather conditions, making them more energy efficient and comfortable during heatwaves.
• Greening Efforts: With a vision to achieve a 30% tree canopy, Miami is working towards increasing its green spaces. Trees and green spaces not only provide shade but also cool the environment through a process called transpiration.

Phoenix

• Addressing Homelessness: Recognizing the intersection of the challenges of homelessness and extreme heat, Angula emphasizes Phoenix’s immediate efforts to aid those without homes. This focus is critical because those experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable to heat waves.
• Professionalizing Cooling Centers: Phoenix intends to adopt a more professionalized approach to managing these centers. By ensuring these centers are well-equipped and adequately staffed, the City aims to provide better support to those seeking refuge from the heat.

While these officials from different cities present varied approaches tailored to their unique challenges, there’s a unifying theme: collaboration. Whether it’s community involvement, inter-departmental cooperation, or shared resources, these urban centers recognize that mitigating the effects of extreme heat demands joint effort on multiple fronts.

A Nation Watches and Waits

While there is unanimous consensus on the need for public awareness, the polarized political atmosphere presents challenges. The battle is not just to alert the public to the dangers of escalating temperatures but to negotiate the political dynamics that might stymie essential initiatives.

With cities like Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and New York leading the way, the nation watches with bated breath. Martha Segura optimistically states, “One important thing I want to signal is that we must have integrated planning… maximizing our resources and investments to mitigate heat and climate change.” As these cities muster their collective strength, there’s hope that determination and shared knowledge can guide the nation toward a cooler, more resilient tomorrow.

  Climate Change, NYC