Washington, D.C. — Less than one year after the Center for American Progress published a series of products addressing the crisis of climate change-driven extreme heat and hosted a virtual event discussing the ways in which communities were working to protect those most vulnerable, we face a drastically different landscape.
With the Trump administration mounting concerted efforts to roll back climate progress, those same communities face soaring temperatures with even fewer supports for their health. For young children, who endure some of the worst consequences of extreme heat, the rollbacks to infrastructure upgrades for schools, the eradication of clean energy projects, and the elimination of heat watch services and community grants to improve air quality will result in enduring negative impacts on their development and learning. As was the case a year ago, it will take a whole-of-society response not only to help safeguard vulnerable infants and children from the worst of extreme heat, but to reverse the attacks on our climate that could set us back by generations.
Join the Center for American Progress as we convene to discuss the challenges we face under this new administration, as well as the strategies families, communities, and local leaders can use to protect the country’s youngest learners.
WHO:
Opening Remarks:
Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Senior Policy Analyst, K-12 Education Policy, Center for American Progress
Keynote Remarks:
John Balbus, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate Change and Health Equity, Department of Health and Human Services
Panelists:
Autumn Burton, Senior Associate of Climate, Health and Environment, Federation of American Scientists
Joan Lombardi, Founder and Director, Early Opportunities Initiative
Jess Piper, Former Educator; Author, “The View from Rural Missouri”
State Sen. James Skoufis (D-NY)
Moderator:
Hailey Gibbs, Associate Director, Early Childhood Policy, Center for American Progress
WHEN:
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Online via Zoom.
To join our virtual audience, please RSVP here.
For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].