Cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis
Densely populated and designed with materials that trap heat, cities are vulnerable to extreme heat and other climate hazards. However, Arsht-Rock is working to bring them to the forefront of climate action, driving solutions and raising awareness about how to protect populations, particularly vulnerable communities and individuals.
While extreme heat is a global problem, cities need solutions that are tailored to their unique local contexts and needs. Arsht-Rock has worked with local governments spread across six continents to appoint Chief Heat Officers—city officials who develop and coordinate a unified local response to heat stress—and to promote effective solutions to accelerate cities’ heat adaptation efforts.
These three articles capture the ways Arsht-Rock has partnered with cities to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including the historically marginalized and vulnerable, and are adopt innovative solutions to meet the challenge of rising temperatures.
In the spotlight
Like many cities around the world, Athens is experiencing increasingly hot summers, characterized by frequent and extreme heatwaves. To address this, Arsht-Rocked collaborated with Global Chief Heat Officer Eleni Myrivili and Alchemia Nova to develop the Hadrian Aqueduct Cooling District: Heat Risk Reduction Guidelines.
Explore the ways cities are building resilience to extreme heat:
LOCAL SOLUTIONS
“Me muero de calor”: How Santiago is building local solutions for extreme heat
Santiago is clearly committed to heat resilience. The city appointed one of the world’s first Chief Heat Officers and has implemented a series of climate resilience solutions, including a heat wave categorization system and innovative heat-health programs.
URBAN GREENING
The cities using urban greening to protect people from extreme heat
Urban greening plays an important role in combatting extreme heat. This blog puts the spotlight on three cities—Miami, Freetown, and Melbourne—working hand-in-hand with local residents to plant the seeds for cooler, greener, and healthier cities of the future.
CLIMATE ACTION PLANS
Freetown on the frontlines: The city’s plan for extreme heat
This blog explores how Freetown, Sierra Leone launched its Climate Action Plan and Heat Season campaign to empower residents with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves from climate-driven extreme heat.
LOCAL SOLUTIONS
Cooling the capital: How Athens is designing a cooler future
Amid rising temperatures, Athens, Greece has taken bold steps to combat extreme heat. The city’s Chief Heat Officers have worked to raise awareness, increase preparedness, and redesign the city for a cooler, safer future.
RESILIENCE RESOURCE
Building heat resilience in your city: The Heat Action Platform
The Heat Action Platform is a key resource to build resilience to the impacts of extreme heat. Our module on adaptation solutions can help you identify the most relevant policies and interventions for your context.
HEAT ACTION PLANS
Miami’s Heat Action Plan: Building resilience through awareness
In December 2022, Miami-Dade County launched its first Extreme Heat Action Plan to inform, prepare, and protect residents from the dangers of climate-driven extreme heat.