America is rapidly barreling towards its next hottest summer on record. To address this growing crisis, states, counties, and cities around the country are experimenting on the fly with policy interventions. California has announced $200 million to build resilience centers that protect communities from extreme heat and has created an all-of-government action plan to address extreme heat. Arizona just launched its Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan and created the first state-level Chief Heat Officer position to guide the state during heat season 2024 and beyond. New Jersey, and Maryland are actively developing extreme heat action plans of their own. California, Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota all have state-wide workplace heat standards, and local governments like the City of Phoenix and Miami-Dade County have passed or attempted to pass workplace protections. Additionally, New York City and Los Angeles have driven cool roof adoption through funding programs and local ordinances, which can reduce energy demands, improve indoor comfort, and potentially lower local outside air temperatures.

While state and local governments can make significant advances, national extreme heat resilience requires a “whole of government” federal approach, as it intersects infrastructure, energy, housing, health, food security, homeland and national security, international relations, and many more policy domains. The federal government can play a critical role in scaling up heat resilience interventions through research and development, regulations, standards, guidance, funding sources, and other policy levers. But what are the transformational policy opportunities for action?