Chief Heat Officers Make Progress Around the World
In 2024, Chief Heat Officers (CHOs) from cities like Miami-Dade, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Athens, and Freetown have made significant strides in addressing extreme heat, a climate challenge exacerbating urban inequalities. The position of CHO is new to cities around the world, and for the past three years, those who occupy it have been moulding both public perceptions and internal policies with regards to the government’s role in protecting people from extreme heat.
Miami, Florida, USA: Jane Gilbert, the first CHO in Miami-Dade County, has spearheaded initiatives focused on cooling urban spaces, especially in underserved areas. This includes planting over 16,000 trees and providing 10,000 more to residents with the aim to raise the tree canopy in vulnerable neighbourhoods. Gilbert's efforts also extend to installing air conditioning in public housing and ensuring vulnerable populations have access to cool spaces during heatwaves (World Economic Forum).
Los Angeles, California, USA: Marta Segura, the city's first CHO, has focused on implementing the city’s "Green New Deal," which aims to reduce temperatures by three degrees by 2035. Los Angeles is focusing on both "grey infrastructure," like cool roofs and pavements, and "green infrastructure," such as tree planting and green spaces. Segura is pushing for stronger urban planning policies to reduce heat exposure, including expanding cooling centres and improving public awareness about heat risks.
Phoenix, Arizona, USA: Known as the hottest major city in the U.S., Phoenix has taken an aggressive approach under its CHO, David Hondula. The city's focus is on creating shaded pedestrian pathways, enhancing access to cooling centres, and planting trees to increase shade. Public communication about heat risks, especially for vulnerable populations, has been ramped up, with local governments addressing the dangers of extreme heat in everyday activities.
Athens, Greece: Elissavet Bargianni, CHO of Athens, has implemented measures like cooling centres and "Help at Home" programs for vulnerable populations. Her team is integrating heat-resilient urban designs, increasing greenery, and using historical knowledge of Mediterranean architecture to build cooler urban spaces (World Economic Forum).
Freetown, Sierra Leone: In Freetown, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and CHO Eugenia Kargbo have prioritised afforestation and urban greening. The city's "Freetown the Tree Town" initiative aims to plant one million trees to combat rising temperatures and urban flooding. These efforts are also tied to supporting informal communities, improving their resilience to heat through local adaptation strategies (World Economic Forum).
These cities illustrate how local resiliency is crucial to combating the global heat crisis. Rather than addressing the heat after it is unbearable, these cities are planning ahead to mitigate the dangerous effects heat can have on people and infrastructure. Communities around the world can follow the example of these leading CHOs by adapting solutions to their unique geography and population. These necessary steps can make cities and towns livable and enjoyable for future generations.
