Climate Resilience
Extreme Heat
International Development
Autumn Burton is the Senior Associate of Climate, Health, and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists. She works on advancing climate resilience through effective federal policy innovation and implementation. A champion of equitable solutions, Autumn supports FAS’ collaborative efforts with policymakers across the federal government to develop and support policies that address environmental injustices, prepare communities for natural hazards, and ensure the health and wellness of American citizens during climate events.
Prior to her work at FAS, Autumn was a Research and Advocacy Advisor at Global Witness, where she helped lead efforts to drive research and action at the intersection of international energy policy and climate justice. She has made an impact in advancing equity and resilience during her tenures as a fellow for the Natural Resource Defense Council’s E2 1 Hotels Fellowship program, Friends of the Earth, and the Second Day. Autumn’s journey in environmental policy and research began at Duke University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences and Policy, with a concentration in International Policy and Energy. During this time, she engaged in research consulting on sustainability, conservation, and resilience efforts in Ethiopia and Madagascar through the Duke University Nicholas School for the Environment.
The federal government plays a critical role in scaling up heat resilience interventions through research and development, regulations, standards, guidance, funding sources, and other policy levers. But what are the transformational policy opportunities for action?
We’ve created a tool to monitor the progress of federal actions on extreme heat, enhance accountability, and to allow stakeholders to stay informed on the evolving state of U.S. climate-change resilience.
Through the broad uptake and implementation of the Heat Action Planning framework by key agencies and offices, the federal government will enable a more heat-prepared nation.
In a blackout, access to critical services like telecommunications, transportation, and medical assistance is also compromised, which only intensifies and compounds the urgency for coordinated response efforts.
FAS introduces a cohort of over 20 experts from our Extreme Heat Policy Challenge to develop high-impact policy recommendations that comprehensively address the extreme heat crisis.