Abstract

The risks posed by extreme heat, to individuals, communities, and economic sectors, are a growing threat, with 2023 being the planet’s warmest year on record and a 99 percent chance that 2024 will again rank among the top five warmest years. While communities have always experienced the effects of seasonal heat waves, climate change is making these events hotter, longer, more frequent, and more likely to occur in locations that are not acclimated and adapted to these changing conditions. 

The recently released Fifth National Climate Assessment describes the unequal impacts of extreme heat on disadvantaged communities and vulnerable people, including, but not limited to the elderly, children, pregnant people, people with chronic conditions, outdoor workers, and unhoused and poorly housed people. Extreme heat also poses a threat to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, which can have secondary effects on economic sectors including agriculture, aquaculture, and recreation. 

Ensuring a thriving nation, resilient to increased heat and heat waves aligns with the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Climate Resilience Framework. This first National Heat Strategy is framed within a broader national context to:

1. Align and strengthen Federal capacity, capabilities, and resources to ensure the nation is resilient to heat
2. Foster engagement, collaboration, support, and joint activities among and with state, local, Tribal, and Territorial governments, and other non-Federal partners to build a heat-resilient nation and promote heat resilience globally

A thriving heat-resilient nation is built on a foundation of both healthy people and economic and social well-being. This document is focused largely on the health (human, animal, ecosystem), economic (business, housing, workforce), infrastructure (power, water, food) and security (including crime, conflict, climate caused migration, and war) aspects of heat, to optimize and enhance awareness, coordination, resilience, and resources to address these critical extreme heat-related impacts for optimal benefit to society.

This Strategy was developed through a series of focused strategic planning workshops. The National Heat Strategy introduces the challenges posed by extreme heat and climate change and an overarching approach to the problem, describes a series of Guiding Principles, and presents four goals focused on communications, science, solutions, and support, each with underlying objectives.

Affiliated Organizations

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

It is the mission of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. We fulfill that mission by providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services.

CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.

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National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them. From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product.

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U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. The challenges posed by more intense storms, frequent heavy rain, heat waves, drought, extreme flooding, and higher sea levels could lead to increased risks from disasters faced by communities and the emergency management professionals serving them.

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