Biden Administration Mobilizes to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat
White House statement on the consequences of extreme heat.
The Biden Administration has launched a plan to combat the effects of heat on its citizens.
Identifying and Addressing Disproportionate Heat Impacts
Extreme heat poses threats to communities across the country—but some communities are more at risk because of longstanding economic and racial injustices and ongoing vulnerabilities. Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, as well as people with low incomes, are more likely to live in areas with intensifying heat impacts and often have less access to air conditioning and other risk-reduction resources. Cities also face higher impacts due to the “urban heat island” effect, referring to elevated temperatures from the prevalence of surfaces that retain heat. This effect can be more severe in neighborhoods affected by redlining and other forms of institutionalized discrimination, as these areas often have lower tree cover and higher pavement concentration.
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