Extreme heat disproportionately affects particularly vulnerable populations due to high heat exposure, preexisting health conditions, and other underlying social and economic inequities. People with low incomes, those living in substandard housing, communities of color, many outdoor and indoor workers, older adults, children, pregnant women, and incarcerated people are among the populations at greatest risk of injury, illness, or death. This series elevates policy proposals to protect those who are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and make progress toward reducing pollution and slowing climate change.
How Congress Can Protect Families From Dangerous Heat and Ensure Cool and Healthy Homes for All ReportOctober 28, 2024 How Congress Can Protect Families From Dangerous Heat and Ensure Cool and Healthy Homes for All On the heels of record-breaking heat this summer and fall, Congress must act to safeguard low-income Americans from extreme heat by investing in efficient and cost-effective heat pump air conditioning and programs to lower electricity costs for households. Oct 28, 2024 Cathleen Kelly, Lucero Marquez, Jasia Smith
Rising Extreme Heat Compounds the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis ReportSeptember 30, 2024 Rising Extreme Heat Compounds the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis Policymakers must act to protect the health and safety of pregnant people—including by passing the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, increasing access to indoor home cooling, and quickly adopting a federal occupational heat standard. Sep 30, 2024 Amina Khalique
Protecting Americans From Extreme Heat Past EventSeptember 18, 2024 Protecting Americans From Extreme Heat Join CAP for an event discussing policy proposals and actions that can protect those most vulnerable to extreme heat. Center for American Progress Sep 18, 2024
Hear From a Child Care Director: How Extreme Heat Affects Young Children VideoSeptember 17, 2024 Hear From a Child Care Director: How Extreme Heat Affects Young Children Extreme heat places a strain on child care program facilities and poses risks to children’s health, learning, and development. Sep 17, 2024 Hailey Gibbs, Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, 1 More Olivia Mowry
Hear From a Teacher: How Extreme Heat Affects Student Learning VideoSeptember 12, 2024 Hear From a Teacher: How Extreme Heat Affects Student Learning In rural and low-income communities, inadequate school infrastructure fails to protect students from extreme heat, negatively affecting student attendance, engagement, and achievement. Sep 12, 2024 Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, Allie Schneider, 1 More Olivia Mowry
Hear From a Pediatrician: How Extreme Heat Endangers Children’s Health and What We Can Do About It VideoSeptember 10, 2024 Hear From a Pediatrician: How Extreme Heat Endangers Children’s Health and What We Can Do About It Dr. Debra Hendrickson, clinical professor of pediatrics and author of The Air They Breathe, explains the risks extreme heat and climate change pose to children's health and the actions parents, communities, and policymakers can take to protect them. Sep 10, 2024 Allie Schneider, Hailey Gibbs, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, 1 More Olivia Mowry
Protecting Older Adults From the Growing Threats of Extreme Heat ReportAugust 22, 2024 Protecting Older Adults From the Growing Threats of Extreme Heat Policymakers must improve heat resilience among older Americans, who face higher risks of extreme heat-related health conditions and deaths, and strengthen the social support and health care systems serving this growing share of the population. Aug 22, 2024 Marquisha Johns, Beth Almeida, Jill Rosenthal
Executive Summary: Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development Fact SheetJuly 18, 2024 Executive Summary: Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development This fact sheet summarizes a recent Center of American Progress report highlighting the need for policymakers to take steps to develop heat standards for children and support infrastructure improvements to ensure schools, child care centers, and communities are safe and healthy places for children. Jul 18, 2024 Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, 1 More Lisette Partelow
Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development ReportJuly 17, 2024 Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development As climate change intensifies extreme heat around the globe, policymakers must take steps to develop heat standards for children and support infrastructure improvements to ensure schools, child care centers, and communities are safe and healthy places for children. Jul 17, 2024 Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, 1 More Lisette Partelow
Extreme Heat Is More Dangerous for Workers Every Year ReportJune 13, 2024 Extreme Heat Is More Dangerous for Workers Every Year Federal and state governments should step up efforts—including adopting heat standards—to address increased on-the-job heat-related injury, illness, and death. Jun 13, 2024 Jill Rosenthal, Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Kate Petosa