Summer is just around the corner for much of the U.S. Traditionally, the season between Memorial Day and Labor Day has strong positive associations: vacations from school and work, basking in sunshine at the beach, enjoying hot dogs and beer at baseball games. But climate change is quickly altering how we collectively dream of summer.
In this report, we highlight some of the reasons why Americans should worry more about extreme heat. To demonstrate how such changes look and feel on the ground, we draw on insights from our recent report mapping heat, wildfire, and flood risks across the city of San Diego. In communities across the country, it’s imperative that households, businesses, civic organizations, and local governments start to manage the chronic risks associated with extreme heat, both through physical investments in the built environment and by providing financial resources where needed.