extreme heat; climate change

The findings of recent study, published in Nature Cities, show that a multi-faceted strategy to address extreme urban heat can cool Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh, by up to 8.1°F. These strategies include a combination of highly reflective ‘super cool’ building materials, irrigated greenery, and energy retrofitting measures. Extreme urban heat affects more than 450 cities worldwide, increasing energy consumption needs and adversely impacting health, including heat-related illness and death.

According to NOAA, the United States recorded 28 weather and climate disasters that topped a billion dollars in damages in 2023, including California flooding in from January through March. The total cost of these events exceeds $92 billion (inflation adjusted) which is the ninth highest on record. Along with the economic cost, these disasters killed 492 people in 2023, including the drought and heats waves of the across South and the firestorm in Maui.

A "whole" government approach is needed to confront the deadliest of climate hazards--extreme heat. Learn more in this commentary: https://themessenger.com/opinion/how-can-we-keep-people-safe-in-a-world… from Mark Rupp of The Messenger.