Urban Heat and Health Interventions and Evidence Gaps
This study will provide an in-depth investigation of the survey results on how communities plan and govern extreme heat risk. The case study methods include semi-structured interviews with decision-makers and content analysis of plans for heat management and mitigation strategies. It builds upon the work started with the CLIMAS Urban Heat Island Mapping project that assessed the use of UHI maps and decision-making in the Southwest, a literature review on planning for extreme heat, and the survey of U.S. planners on extreme heat. To document the current state of emergent extreme heat governance in the U.S., five case study communities were selected, including Tucson, AZ; Houston, TX; Baltimore, MD; Detroit, MI; and Seattle, WA. These communities represent five National Climate Assessment regions, and four of the communities have participated in the NIHHIS-CAPA Heat Mapping Campaign.