Miami

Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava named Jane Gilbert, a longtime local public and community leader, as Interim Chief Heat Officer, making her the first person globally to hold the title.

Mayor Levine Cava’s landmark appointment, together with the commitments by Athens, Freetown, and other global cities expected to sign on to CCHA in the near future, signals the urgent need for local governments to dedicate resources to combat the growing risks and impacts of extreme heat, especially for vulnerable communities.

Dubbed the “silent killer,” heatwaves cause more deaths than any other climate-driven natural disasters in the US and wreak quiet havoc on the health and economic well-being of billions of people across the globe.

“In Miami-Dade County, we know heat! As the impacts of heat grow, they are further compounded by hurricanes, floods, and sea level rise,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “And we know extreme heat does not impact people equally – poorer communities and Black and Hispanic people bear the brunt of the public health impacts. Appointing Miami-Dade’s first Chief Heat Officer will help expand, accelerate, and coordinate our efforts to protect people from heat and save lives.”

Adrienne Arsht, founder of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Resilience Center and Executive Vice Chair of the Atlantic Council said, “The world knows that Miami is ground zero for climate impacts and having a Chief Heat Officer will help ensure that the people of this community are more resilient as the earth continues to heat up.

Athens

“Extreme heat is one of Athens’ greatest threats to livability and economic prosperity for our residents. I am committed to prioritizing our resilience to this growing challenge alongside fellow city leaders in joining City Champions for Heat Action.  Athens, and the rest of the world, is ready for our Chief Heat Officers to steward us towards a cooler and safer future,” said Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis of Athens, Greece.

Freetown

“The resilient people of Freetown live and work with heat every day – and we will be forced to adapt to higher temperatures. By joining CCHA and naming a Chief Heat Officer for my city, I seek to build dedicated capacity to protecting vulnerable people and livelihoods from rising temperatures and to help build a culture of preparation and prevention,” said Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE of Freetown, Sierra Leone.