Three Key Takeaways: Confronting Heat Challenges in the United States

In June, leaders from across the country convened for the first Heatwise Policy Partnership Summit, hosted by Ashley Ward‘s Heat Policy Hub at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability. Duke’s Office for External Partnerships is proud to have assisted in convening this important summit. The findings have been released in a report available for download.

Three key findings:
1. Systemic disinvestment, compounded by isolation and poverty, is a key driver of heat vulnerability in rural and tribal communities. Addressing both immediate and systemic challenges in these areas requires context-specific approaches and cross-sector collaboration.
2. Government responses to heat-related challenges are not well-understood. Existing systems and policies are inadequate to address heat as either a chronic or an acute stressor. New frameworks and approaches are urgently needed to guide future actions and focus the work. An integrated approach across sectors and levels of government is critical.
3. Engaging sectors such as finance insurance, and technology can drive significant change. Health insurance and utility companies are also currently under-engaged in discussions. Additionally, the impacts of heat on the private sector—including operations, logistics and transportation—are largely overlooked, representing untapped opportunities for engagement.

Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eSXkWxQT

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