Environment

Extreme Heat

06.26.24 | 1 min read

Extreme heat has rapidly become an enormous crisis with implications for myriad sectors of our society – leading states, counties, and cities around the country to experiment on the fly with policy interventions. 

While state and local governments can make significant advances, national extreme heat resilience requires a “whole of government” federal approach, as it intersects infrastructure, energy, housing, health, food security, homeland and national security, international relations, and many more policy domains. 

FAS is determined to find transformational policy opportunities to tackle the heat crisis, meeting with stakeholders across the public and private sectors, along with academic researchers and current and former government officials. This dedication to surfacing and developing solutions for combatting the effects of extreme heat is centered around communities and populations disproportionately affected by the problem.

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Environment
Blog
Issue Brief
It’s Summer, America’s Heating Up, and We’re Even More Unprepared

The good news is that even when the mercury climbs, heat illness, injury, and death are preventable. The bad news is that over the past five months, the Trump administration has dismantled essential preventative capabilities.

06.23.25 | 11 min read
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Environment
Press release
Position On H.Res.446 – Recognizing “National Extreme Heat Awareness Week”

The Federation of American Scientists supports H.Res. 446, which would recognize July 3rd through July 10th as “National Extreme Heat Awareness Week”.

06.19.25 | 1 min read
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Environment
Press release
Position On H.R.3738 – Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025

The Federation of American Scientists supports H.R. 3738 of the 119th Congress, titled the “Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025.”

06.19.25 | 1 min read
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Environment
Issue Brief
Impacts of Extreme Heat on Rural Communities

To protect rural America, Congress must address extreme heat’s impacts by repairing rural health systems, strengthening the preparedness of rural businesses, and hardening rural energy infrastructure

06.17.25 | 3 min read
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Environment
Issue Brief
Economic Impacts of Extreme Heat: Energy

The federal government needs to strengthen energy systems through investments in energy infrastructure across energy generation, transmission, and use.

04.08.25 | 6 min read
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Environment
Press release
Position On The Heating and Cooling Relief Act of 2025

The Federation of American Scientists supports The Heating and Cooling Relief Act of 2025. With summer right around the corner, it is more important than ever to ensure life-saving home cooling is affordable to all Americans.

04.07.25 | 2 min read
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Environment
Press release
Position On The Cool Roof Product Rebate Act of 2025

The Cool Roof Product Rebate Act of 2025 would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a federal rebate program for the purchase and installation of cool roofs. Cool roofs can help households lower energy costs, prevent the negative health impacts of high indoor temperatures, and improve community resiliency by reducing the strain on the grid.

04.07.25 | 1 min read
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Environment
Press release
Position on S.1166, The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act

Extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of injury and death and innovations in the built environment can save money and lives.

04.01.25 | 1 min read
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Environment
Press release
Position on S.325 – establishing the National Integrated Heat Health Information System

S.325 would establish a clear, sustained federal governance structure for extreme heat by bringing all responsible agencies together to coordinate planning, preparedness, and response, a key recommendation of FAS’ 2025 Heat Policy Agenda.

02.04.25 | 1 min read
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Environment
Policy Memo
Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke: Consequences for Communities

Understanding and planning for the compound impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke will improve public health preparedness, mitigate public exposure to extreme heat and wildfire smoke, and minimize economic losses.

01.14.25 | 8 min read
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Environment
Press release
Federation of American Scientists Unveils Federal Policy Agenda for Tackling Extreme Heat; Supported by 60+ Organizations

This strategy provides specific, actionable policy ideas to tackle the growing threat of extreme heat in the United States and was co-signed by more than 60 labor, industry, health, housing, environmental, academic and community associations and organizations.

01.13.25 | 4 min read
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Environment
Policy Memo
2025 Heat Policy Agenda

Extreme heat has become a national economic crisis: lowering productivity, shrinking business revenue, destroying crops, and pushing power grids to the brink. The impacts of extreme heat cost our Nation an estimated $162 billion in 2024 – equivalent to nearly 1% of the U.S. GDP.

01.13.25 | 16 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Mobilizing Innovative Financial Mechanisms for Extreme Heat Adaptation Solutions in Developing Nations

To address challenges posed by increased extreme heat, USAID should mobilize finance through environmental impact bonds focused on scaling extreme heat adaptation solutions.

09.27.24 | 12 min read
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Environment
Press release
Federation of American Scientists among leading voices for federal policy action at White House Summit on Extreme Heat

FAS has been a leading voice for action on this topic, and has developed a compendium of 150+ heat-related federal policy recommendations. 

09.13.24 | 3 min read
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Environment
Blog
Energy Justice for All: Keeping Disadvantaged Populations Cool in a Heating World

As temperatures rise, so do energy bills. Energy justice should be a federal priority as the extreme heat crisis exposes energy security gaps.

08.08.24 | 12 min read
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Environment
Report
Making the Most of OSHA’s Extreme Heat Rule

OSHA’s proposed heat rule aims to protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor settings from heat-related illnesses and fatalities. Its success hinges on substantial investments to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

07.31.24 | 11 min read
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Environment
Blog
The Blackouts During the Texas Heatwave Were Preventable. Here’s Why.

As people wait for this catastrophic grid failure to be remedied, much of southeast Texas, which includes Houston, is enduring dangerous, extreme heat with no air conditioning amid an ongoing heatwave.

07.12.24 | 2 min read
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Environment
Report
Building a Whole-of-Government Strategy to Address Extreme Heat

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?

06.18.24 | 32 min read
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FAS
Press release
22 Organizations Urge Department of Education to Protect Students from Extreme Heat at Schools

FAS and our partner organizations welcome the opportunity to meet with the Department of Education to discuss recommendations as we enter another season of unprecedented heat.

06.18.24 | 3 min read
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Environment
Report
Heat Hazards and Migrant Rights: Protecting Agricultural Workers in a Changing Climate

Comprehensive heat safety standards are essential to mitigate the impacts of climate change on farmworkers and ensure the sustainability and resilience of agricultural operations.

06.06.24 | 18 min read
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Environment
Blog
Tracking Extreme Heat Federal Policy and Funding

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.

05.01.24 | 3 min read
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Environment
Press release
The Federation of American Scientists Presents Policy Proposals to Address the Human Toll of Extreme Heat, Hosts Summit with Arizona State University

In the absence of a national strategy to address the compounding impacts of extreme heat, states, counties, and cities have had to take on the responsibility of addressing the reality of extreme heat in their communities with limited resources.

04.29.24 | 5 min read
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Environment
Policy Memo
Preparing and Responding to Extreme Heat through Effective Local, State, and Federal Action Planning

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.

04.05.24 | 12 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
U.S. Water Policy for a Warming Planet

Global episodes of extreme heat intensify water shortages caused by extended drought and overpumping. Creating actionable solutions to the challenges of a warming planet requires cooperation across all water consumers.

04.05.24 | 14 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Defining Disaster: Incorporating Heat Waves and Smoke Waves into Disaster Policy

To better incorporate extreme heat and people-centered disasters into U.S. emergency management, Congress and federal agencies should take several interrelated actions.

04.05.24 | 12 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Tracking and Preventing the Health Impacts of Extreme Heat

The undercounting of deaths related to extreme heat and other people-centered disasters — like extreme cold and smoke waves — hinders the political and public drive to address the problem.

04.05.24 | 8 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Leveraging Federal Post-Disaster Recovery Reform for Extreme Heat Adaptation and Innovation

The U.S. must urgently reform its disaster assistance policies to incorporate extreme heat through an amendment to the Stafford Act.

04.05.24 | 10 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
A National Framework for Sustainable Urban Forestry to Combat Extreme Heat

The incoming administration should undertake a multi-agency effort to further develop the science and quantify the benefits of urban forests today and into the future.

04.04.24 | 7 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Optimizing $4 Billion of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Funding To Protect the Most Vulnerable Households From Extreme Heat

The federal government must maximize existing funds to mitigate heat stress and ensure the equitable distribution of these resources to the most vulnerable households.

04.04.24 | 8 min read
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Environment
day one project
Policy Memo
Enhancing Public Health Preparedness for Climate Change-Related Health Impacts

The escalating frequency and intensity of extreme heat events, exacerbated by climate change, pose a significant and growing threat to public health. By leveraging funding mechanisms, incentives, and requirements, HHS can strengthen health system preparedness.

04.04.24 | 8 min read
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