Overview:

Summary: Communication systems issuing warnings about forecasted dangerous heat conditions have been shown to reduce mortality during extreme heat events.

Implementation: Establish an extreme heat warning system with information about the duration and severity of the heat event as well as directing residents to cooling resources in the community.

Considerations for Use: Heat alerts should be disseminated through multiple channelssuch as social media, radio, television, text and phone call alerts to ensure the largest reach. The timing and resulting effectiveness of the first official announcement will establish a community's level of trust in the system.

• Policy Levers:
  
  
  Awareness and EngagementGovernments may design and operate programs with the goal of increasing awareness and engagement among constituents or stakeholder groups about the risks and opportunities of extreme heat.
• Trigger Points:
  
  
  No-regrets actions (low cost/low effort but substantial benefit)Interventions that are relatively low-cost and low effort (in terms of requisite dependencies) but have substantial environmental and/or social benefits.
• Intervention Type:
  Communications/Outreach
• Sectors:
  Disaster Risk Management  , Informal Settlements, Public Health

Impact:

• Target Beneficiaries:
  Heat-vulnerable communities, Residents
• Phase of Impact:
  Emergency response and management
• Metrics:
  Number of community members reached

Case Studies:

• Philadelphia Hot Weather-Health Watch/Warning System (UNEP, Pg 161)
• Athens, Paris & Rotterdam Extrema App

Implementation:

• Intervention Scale:
  City, State/Province
• Authority and Governance:
  City government, State/provincial government
• Implementation Timeline:
  Short-term (1-2 Years)
• Implementation Stakeholders:
  City government, State/provincial government
• Funding Sources:
  Grants and philanthropy, Public investment
• Capacity to Act:
  High

Benefits:

• Cost-Benefit:
  Low
• Public Good:
  High
• GHG Reduction:
  N/A
• Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
  Provide flood protection
• Co-benefits (Social):
  Build social cohesion, Improve human health