Listening session on heat planning

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Climate Change and Health Equity (CCHE) Local Assistance Unit is hosting a listening session on Wednesday, May 8th at 2 p.m. P.T. to solicit your input on our Interim Guide to Equity-Centered Local Health Planning as we prepare to release an update for summer 2024. If you have a chance to review it, we would love to hear your suggestions for changes or additions. This guide is designed to help local jurisdictions incorporate health equity into new or existing heat action and planning efforts, in order to protect everyone, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of heat.

WHAT: Listening Session, Public encourged to attend

DATE: Wednesday, May 8th

TIME: 2 p.m. P.T. 

LOCATION: Virtual meeting (register below)

Register for the listening session here >>

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Climate Change and Health Equity (CCHE) Branch envisions a state where all Californians thrive in healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. We work to achieve this by building health equity, advancing climate action, and improving living conditions through policies, systems, and environmental changes.

Extreme heat and health equity virtual meeting

The California Climate Action Team Public Health Workgroup addresses cross-cutting issues related to climate change and health equity, and provides a forum for communication, coordination, and education across agencies and with stakeholders. Workgroup meetings are open to the public and co-hosted by the California Department of Public Health and the Air Resources Board. This meeting will focus on the impacts of extreme heat on California communities and the need for equitable interventions. Presenters will discuss current statewide projects and programs addressing extreme heat, and actions to increase community heat resilience and protect those most vulnerable to heat-related health impacts.

WHAT: Workgroup meeting, Public encourged to attend

DATE:   Wednesday, May 29, 2024

TIME:   1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. P.T

LOCATION:   Virtual meeting (register below)

An agenda and additional details are forthcoming, and will be posted here.

More information about the  Public Health Workgroup of the California Climate Action Team (CAT-PHWG).

Why get involved

Climate change is resulting in more frequent, increasingly severe, and longer-lasting extreme heat events that disproportionately impact populations facing inequities. Heat kills more people directly than any other weather-related hazard, with approximately 1,220 people dying from extreme heat every year in the United States. In California, between 2010-2020, there was an average of more than 5,000 emergency department visits and 60 deaths per year due to heat-related illness. Certain population groups, such as older adults, infants and children, pregnant people, and people with chronic health conditions can be especially sensitive to heat exposure. These characteristics, combined with existing health inequities and additional factors, such as poverty, type of occupation (e.g., working outdoors or in unconditioned indoor environments), linguistic isolation, housing insecurity, and the legacy of racist redlining policies on neighborhood conditions such as housing, trees, and asphalt can lead to disproportionately high risk of heat-related illness and death. However, heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable.