Preparing for a Hotter Future: The Center for Heat Resilient Communities

Rising temperatures and more frequent, prolonged heat waves present a growing and inequitable threat to the health, economies, and security of communities everywhere, yet heat governance remains underdeveloped. The Center for Heat Resilient Communities aims to help bridge this gap by building a comprehensive set of strategies through engagement with experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers in the United States and beyond. This NOAA funded center will develop and implement a Heat Resilient Communities Framework that brings together diverse expertise and knowledge-sharing hubs to identify and evaluate policies, protocols and lessons for heat resilience. It will support communities in determining the best strategies for local heat mitigation and management, leveraging federal investments to enhance heat resilience, and using decision-support tools to develop data-driven and equity-centered heat strategies. Support will include direct funds for communities to develop knowledge and lessons learned that can apply in the U.S. and internationally. The goal is to recommend actionable strategies for NOAA, NIHHIS, and federal partners to support local community resilience through evidence-based, equity-driven strategies.