Global Heat Action Day Webinar Recording Now Available
“How can clinics and health centers leverage their relationships, leverage the unique role they plan in the community to support local community managers, local public health, […] faith-based organizations… How can they work together to develop systems to protect those that are most vulnerable?”
On June 2, the American Public Health Association and ecoAmerica cohosted the webinar “Global Heat Day: Local Solutions to Protect Communities.” As summer temperatures continue to ramp up year over year, community-level engagement and action are more important than ever. If you missed it or want to experience the presentations again, watch the recording below!
Throughout the webinar, we heard from experts in working with communities on extreme heat initiatives. Nate Matthews-Trigg, the Director of Climate and Disaster Resilience at Americares presented a wealth of available, free resources from Americares, including the Climate Resilience Toolkit for Health Clinics, and the Wildfire Smoke and Heat-Health Action Plans. These resources were developed in partnership with community and seek to provide communities with support at all levels. Reverend Katie Sexton, Executive Director of the Arizona Faith Network, then describes the cross-sector partnerships that have been essential in moving extreme heat initiatives forward in Arizona. Faith communities are uniquely positioned to serve as cooling and heat respite centers, partly because they are deeply rooted and trusted in communities. We then heard from Shweta Arya, from APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity, about strategies at the national level that trickle down through their state affiliates to benefit local communities facing extreme heat. One of these initiatives is the Cities for Smart Surfaces Project which works to incorporate infrastructure strategies to manage urban heat and stormwater while maximizing climate, health, and equity co-benefits.
Working alongside APHA, we are continuing to develop resources on extreme heat and health. Join us for the “Extreme Heat & Health: Clinical and Public Health Strategies for Prevention and Action Training” on July 24. Register and receive 3 free continuing education credits when you complete the training.
About the Author
Amanda Li is an APHA Kaiser Permanente Community Health Fellow placed with ecoAmerica’s Climate for Health program.
Additional Resources
Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2025
Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Children and Youth Report 2023