Faced with extreme heat, cities turn to scientists to understand people’s reactions
Officials in Miami and New York City say they need more insight into how scorching temperatures will affect homeless people and other vulnerable populations.
Temperatures soar in Long Island City, New York on June 21, 2024, and sprinklers help people stay cool.
Selcuk Akar/Anadolu via Getty Images
Climate Wire U.S. cities want scientists to do more research into how to deal with extreme heat, especially its effects on human behavior and health.
That was the message delivered at a panel discussion at Columbia University on Wednesday, where officials from Miami and New York City shared their wish lists for heat research, with sociology centered on high-risk populations coming out on top.
The use of the cooling centers — specifically, who would go there and why — was a big question for Isabel Thomas, a policy adviser in the New York City mayor’s office.
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“Why do people go to cooling centers? Why don’t people go to cooling centers?,” she asked. “What is their perception of urgency, or lack thereof, regarding the heatwave?”
She noted that some communities, such as those who work outdoors or those who are homeless, are at higher risk from temperature spikes, and greater insight into the experiences of these vulnerable populations could help policymakers develop more effective heat strategies.
“In New York City, there is still a lack of data on occupational heat exposure and health effects, particularly for food vendors, delivery workers and other workers who work outdoors in the city,” Thomas said.
Jane Gilbert, Miami-Dade County’s chief heat management officer, said the city also needs more accurate data on how many people die or get sick during heat waves, because currently those estimates are often gross underestimates.
Extreme temperatures can directly lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death. These cases are easy to spot. But heat can also have indirect effects on human health, such as aggravating existing health conditions, increasing the risk of workplace injuries and affecting mental health. These indirect effects often go unrecorded on hospital admission records or death certificates.
“In fact, direct heat-related deaths, illnesses and hospitalizations are just the tip of the iceberg of health impacts,” Gilbert said.
Research into how many people are actually hospitalized or killed by heatwaves, as well as where they occur and which people are most affected, could help policymakers design better protections for vulnerable communities.
“It’s really important for us to understand the context of where these illnesses and deaths are occurring — where the transmission is happening — to plan and prioritize interventions,” Gilbert said.
Worsening urban heat island
Cities are among the worst affected by extreme heat, due to a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect: city centers are often hotter than the surrounding countryside due to higher population density, more asphalt, darker road surfaces and fewer trees.
Even within the same city, neighborhoods vary widely based on population density and access to green space. Research also shows that low-income families and people of color More likely to live in hotter areas.
This puts cities on the front line of heat adaptation, with vulnerable residents most at risk.
Both New York and Miami are implementing heat action plans aimed at expanding cooling resources and slowing rising urban temperatures.
The Miami plan calls for improved emergency response during heat waves, more air conditioning and more tree canopy coverage in the county. New York City officials also want to increase tree canopy coverage in the city and are working on policies for maximum indoor air temperatures in schools and other facilities.
Other cities across the country have their own plans.
Phoenix and Los Angeles have hired chief heat officers, as has Miami. Cities from Philadelphia to Houston have developed emergency plans for heat waves and plans to make their cities more heat-tolerant. Even King County, Washington, which includes Seattle, created its first extreme heat mitigation strategy in the wake of 2021’s record-breaking Pacific Northwest heat dome.
Still, experts say more measures are needed as temperatures rise.
“Our lives and lifestyles will have to change, the way we conduct business and go about our daily lives during hot weather will have to change,” Thomas said. “But it doesn’t have to be the worst. I think there are lots of opportunities to change how we go about our daily lives to adapt and stay safe during extreme heat.”
Source E&E News Posted with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News delivers news that matters to energy and environmental professionals.
