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Policy Solution

Heat emergency response plan

Commitment

Case Studies

Summary

Creating a heat emergency response plan can help governments anticipate heat waves and minimize loss of life. A heat emergency response plan will identify vulnerable populations, set standards to forecast and categorize heat waves, and identify roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders during high-heat events.

Implementation

Coordinate with local, regional, state/provincial, and/or national entities to prepare a heat emergency response plan.

Considerations for Use

Emergency response plans should be regularly tested and updated. Preventative and emergency communication plans and materials should be included.

Overview

  • Climate:

    Cold, Hot/Dry, Hot/Humid, Temperate

  • Policy Levers:

    CommitmentGovernments set ambitious goals or targets to guide prioritization and investment.

  • Trigger Points:

    City planning processesIncludes city initiatives such as the development of climate action plan, pathway to zero-energy, master plan, transit plan, energy mapping etc.
    Preparatory measures (actions to establish authority to act)Actions to establish/ensure the authority to act when appropriate trigger-points occur.

  • Intervention Types:

    Planning/Policy

  • Sectors:

    Disaster Risk Management, Informal Settlements, Public Health

Case Studies

Impact

  • Target Beneficiaries:

    Heat-vulnerable communities, Residents

  • Phase of Impact:

    Emergency response and management

  • Metrics:

    Reduction in heat-related deaths

Implementation

  • Intervention Scale:

    City, Region, State/Province

  • Authority and Governance:

    City government, National government, State/provincial government

  • Implementation Timeline:

    Short-term (1-2 Years)

  • Implementation Stakeholders:

    CBOs, City government, Industry, National government, Property owners and managers, Public, State/provincial government

  • Funding Sources:

    Public investment

  • Capacity to Act:

    High, Medium

Benefits

  • Cost-Benefit:

    Low

  • Public Good:

    High

  • GHG Reduction:

    N/A

  • Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):

    N/A

  • Co-benefits (Social/Economic):

    Build community capacity, Build social cohesion, Improve human health