US local action on heat and health: are we prepared for climate change?

Objectives Global climate change is increasing the frequency of heat waves, hot weather, and temperature variability, which contribute to mortality and illness. Baseline information on local efforts to reduce heat vulnerability, including public advisories; minimizing greenhouse gas emissions; and m...

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Published inInternational Journal of Public Health Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 105 - 112
Main Authors O’Neill, Marie S., Jackman, Dana K., Wyman, Michelle, Manarolla, Xico, Gronlund, Carina J., Brown, Daniel G., Brines, Shannon J., Schwartz, Joel, Diez-Roux, Ana V.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 01.04.2010
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Climate Change
Data Collection
Environmental Health
Global warming
Health Planning
Heat
Hot Temperature - adverse effects
Humans
Local Government
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine
Original Article
Public Health
Sustainability
United States
United States
Health effects
Temperature
Vulnerability
Global climate
Adaptation
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Summary:Objectives Global climate change is increasing the frequency of heat waves, hot weather, and temperature variability, which contribute to mortality and illness. Baseline information on local efforts to reduce heat vulnerability, including public advisories; minimizing greenhouse gas emissions; and mitigating urban heat islands, is lacking. Methods We designed a survey about local government programs to prevent health problems and reduce heat exposure during heatwaves and administered it to 285 US communities. Results Of 70 respondents, 26 indicated that excessive heat events are a significant issue for the local government; 30 had established preventive programs. Local government leadership and public health impacts of heat were cited most frequently as extremely important determinants of preventive programs, followed by implementation costs, economic impacts of hot weather, and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. Cool paving materials and vegetated roofs were common heat mitigation strategies. Fact sheets and case studies were desired guidance for protecting communities during hot weather. Conclusions New partnerships and financial resources are needed to support more widespread local action to prevent adverse health consequences of climate change and promote environmental sustainability.
ISSN:1661-8556
1420-911X
1661-8564
DOI:10.1007/s00038-009-0071-5