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The first Chief Heat Officer in the world just got appointed
Climate change is one of the most debated scientific issues in the past 20 years. One of the fatalities which is linked to climate change is the rise of temperatures around the world. The past six years have been the warmest ones since 1880, while 2020 made the “Top three warmest years” list. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2020 was 1.2°C above pre-industrial era temperatures and they predict 20% probability that temperatures will temporarily exceed 1.5°C as early as 2024.
The problem is not just that being in heat feels uncomfortable, but it can also be deadly, especially for older people, outdoors workers, pregnant women… Did you know that in the US, heat kills more people each year on average than any other weather-related event and it often gets described as the “silent killer”?
One of the ways of responding to rising temperatures for cities is also hiring a “Chief Heat Officer”. Miami-Dade is the first county in the world which appointed someone for this position. They are already at risk from a number of threats linked to climate change, including hurricanes, flooding and rising sea levels. Their Chief Heat Officer, Jane Gilbert, will work with local authorities, academics and community groups to identify the most vulnerable ones to extreme heat and to develop responses. Ms Gilbert will also be overseeing the whole initiative “Heat Season Campaign”, the first ever heat plan which will be created under a new task force to better inform and prepare the public for high temperatures.
The aim is to make the Miami-Dade region more resilient, including raising roads and flood-proofing buildings, creating “resilience hubs” where people can cool down during heatwaves, ensuring shaded bus stops, expansion of existing programs such as “Adopt a Tree” and many other solutions.
We are all yet to see all the positive examples that a person on this position can (and will) succeed in and hopefully other cities will follow the lead and help fight the climate change in all the possible ways. Photo Sigmund for Unsplash
