Enhancing Heat Resilience in Southern Arizona through Codesign and Academic Public Health Partnerships

Extreme heat is a global concern that necessitates cross-sectoral collaboration and solutions to mitigate impacts on human health and wellbeing. The U.S. Southwest is at the forefront of extreme heat events that are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity. Heat-related deaths in Arizona alone have climbed from approximately 150 deaths in 2012 to 990 deaths in 2023, a six-fold increase in a little over a decade. Recognizing the threat to Arizonans health and wellbeing, Arizona Governor, Katie Hobbs, declared an extreme heat emergency in 2023 and issued an Executive Order to develop a statewide heat preparedness plan.

Led by the City of Tucson, Pima County Health Department, and the University of Arizona, partners from across Southern Arizona mobilized to convene the Southern Arizona Heat Planning Summit which brought together over 100 representatives from grassroots, non-profit, local and tribal government, private sector, labor unions, utilities, and academic organizations. The Summit engaged local and regional experts to a) understand current practices, b) identify opportunities to improve heat resilience; c) develop strategies to enhance heat response, coordination, and mitigation efforts; and d) coordinate input for ongoing state and local heat planning initiatives.

The Summit acknowledged the lived experiences of the community and sought to develop a shared vision for building heat resilience. Key heat management recommendations identified at this summit included: improving outreach and education on heat relief efforts and services (e.g., utility assistance programs); improving data collection, early warning systems and risk communication during heat waves; implementing mandatory employee training on the risks of heat exposure and protection; and establishing plans and protocols to ensure cooling center operations are accessible to community members who are at increased risk and vulnerability. Outcomes of the Summit included the development of the City of Tucson’s Heat Action Roadmap and the Pima County Health Department’s 3-year Heat Plan. The convening also fostered new partnerships and bolstered collaboration across local organizations for cooling center operations and improved communication and education to individuals with increased risk and vulnerabilities. This session will:

• Describe the recommendations and outcomes of the Southern Arizona Heat Planning Summit.
• Highlight the collaborative approach adopted for the co-design of heat planning and response efforts.
• Introduce effective strategies and characteristics to enable effective multi-sectoral, academic-practice partnerships.