Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity: Lessons Learned in Addressing Inequities in Heat-Related Climate Change Impacts

Extreme heat is a pervasive and critical hazard of climate change. While heat poses a significant threat to large swaths of the human population, it is not affecting all people or all communities equally. To explore what it takes to prevent and mitigate inequitable health impacts from extreme heat, the National Academies Environmental Health Matters Initiative (EHMI) organized a workshop on June 20-21, 2023, titled Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity: Lessons Learned in Addressing Inequities in Heat-Related Climate Change Impacts.

The workshop was the third in a series of EHMI events exploring the state of knowledge about climate-related health disparities. This hybrid event convened people with lived experience in communities affected by extreme heat; experts in environmental health, economic, and racial justice; climate scientists; energy specialists; and people involved in sustainable planning and disaster relief. Through presentations, shared stories, and interactive discussions, participants explored real-world challenges related to extreme heat, along with actions being pursued to prevent, adapt to, or mitigate the health consequences.