Blog: New state and federal measures aim to manage extreme heat risks
This has been an unprecedented year for extreme heat events. Californians experienced several heat waves throughout the summer, all-time temperature records were broken across the state, and the state’s power grid was pushed to its limit. Now that winter is approaching, California has a good opportunity to prepare for the extreme heat that will return next summer and in future years. As climate change progresses, extreme heat events will become more frequent, more severe, and longer in duration. They will also pose major public health risks: extreme heat can exacerbate problems like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and put sensitive populations like the elderly, children, manual laborers, and people experiencing homelessness at risk.