Heat-related deaths in the U.S. have surged 117% over the past 24 years, with a sharp increase since 2016, according to a recent study.
This summer has once again reminded us that extreme heat is not just uncomfortable — it's deadly. More Americans die each year from heat than from hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. Extreme heat is not natural variablity. It is driven by human-caused climate change, primarily from fossil fuel emissions, which is making heat waves longer, hotter and more frequent, putting communities at growing risk to health, the economy and overall well-being.
A new national survey from ecoAmerica and APHA shows Americans are worried. Nearly three-quarters of Americans say they are concerned about extreme heat in their communities, and 81% support stronger preparedness and response efforts. Their concern is well-founded. Extreme heat worsens air quality, strains our power grid and drives up emergency room visits. It exacerbates chronic health conditions, from asthma to heart disease, and increases the risk of preterm births and mental health crises.
But the threat is not borne equally. Low-income families, older adults, children, outdoor workers, people who are unhoused and communities of color face disproportionate risks. They often live in neighborhoods with less tree cover, fewer cooling resources and more paved surfaces that intensify urban “heat islands.” For these communities, the choice between paying an energy bill or turning off the air conditioner can mean life or death.
The economic toll is staggering as well. Heat is already costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars each year in lost worker productivity alone. Outdoor workers in construction, agriculture and delivery are especially at risk, yet their labor underpins much of our economy.
At APHA's Center for Climate, Health and Equity, we are equipping health professionals and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to act. We are also partnering with leading health organizations through the Alliance for Heat Resilience and Health to drive national awareness and elevate action on extreme heat. This summer, APHA and more than 100 allies called on the National Governors Association to take action on four urgent priorities:
Assess extreme heat impacts statewide and invest in robust health surveillance.
Designate a statewide heat lead and develop a comprehensive government-wide heat plan.
Consider extreme heat to be a state of emergency, so that resources can be mobilized quickly.
Plan and finance long-term strategies to reduce heat risks.
Preparing for extreme heat requires immediate safeguards and long-term investments, such as expanding tree canopy, updating building codes for cool roofs, and ensuring access to clean, affordable energy. While air conditioning can save lives, it alone is not enough. Passive cooling solutions like reflective roofs, green infrastructure and shaded public spaces are essential.
The bottom line is clear: Extreme heat is one of the most urgent public health threats of our time, but it is also one of the most preventable. Every life lost to heat is a failure of preparedness and every step we take now can protect our neighbors, save billions of dollars and build resilience for generations to come.
Shweta Arya is project manager for smart surfaces within APHA's Center for Climate, Health and Equity.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
