We will never get back to the old normal summers: LA’s Chief Heat Officer, Marta Segura on building heat resilience
By Climate Champions | August 13, 2024
In the heart of Los Angeles, Maria Alvarez, a 65-year-old resident of the historically underserved neighbourhood of Pacoima, finds solace in the shade of a newly planted tree outside her home. The sweltering summer days that once kept her confined indoors have become more bearable, thanks to the city’s expanding urban canopy and newly implemented cooling centres. Maria’s story is one of many Californians already benefiting from LA’s comprehensive efforts to protect its most vulnerable residents from the increasing threat of extreme heat, a challenge intensified by man-made climate change.
As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympics, Mayor Bass has committed to “Lock Arms” to ensure the safety and comfort of its population and visitors. Chief Segura, who was appointed as LA’s first Chief Heat Officer in June 2022 – is supporting the Mayor’s vision and working within the LA 28 Olympics Committees and working groups to advise on how to reduce the risks of the 28 Olympics in alignment with the developing Heat Action Plan. With a background in public health and environmental sciences, Segura has been instrumental in spearheading the West Coast’s first City developed heat resilience plan aimed at addressing the growing threat of extreme heat, underscored by recent years of climate-driven temperature spikes in Los Angeles and across the globe.
The groundwork for this plan was laid in 2021 when the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office launched an extreme heat public awareness campaign. This initiative, aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and fatalities, emphasized the need for community-centric public awareness campaigns and equitable resource deployment. Known as #HeatRelief4LA, this campaign is a cornerstone of LA’s heat resilience efforts, promoting health and safety practices through social media, PSA’s on bus shelters, buses and through peer to peer multilingual outreach.
LA’s first Chief Heat Officer, Marta Segura.
“At the City of LA, we are creating the West Coast’s first City driven Heat Action Plan, and we are on our 3rd launch of our #HeatRelief4LA Campaign, a Public Awareness and Preparedness Program that uses culture, art and multiple languages to connect with everyday Angelenos. The campaign materials are available in more than 15 languages, and our PSA is now on over 300 bus shelters with over 30 Million impressions. We have partnered with over 75 CBOs, City District Offices, and over 70 Public Libraries to distribute the information,” says Segura.
Heat is a silent, escalating disaster. Half a million people around the world die every year from illnesses linked to heat. But while hurricanes and wildfires claim their dead almost immediately, heat rarely takes credit for its work. Consistently high temperatures can accelerate deaths that are ultimately attributed to other causes: a heart attack, a runaway asthma attack, an overdose. Nearly 4,000 Californians died as a result of excess temperatures between 2010 and 2019. And the summers are only getting hotter.
LA’s heat resilience strategy encompasses both immediate and long-term measures. On the immediate front, the city is ensuring that more cooling facilities, including 73 public libraries, are available as cooling centres with extended hours during extreme heat events. The Cool Spots LA map that Chief Segura spearheaded with the support of many departments and their existing data, helps residents locate these centres, which also include hydration stations, splash pads, and recreation centres., bus shelters and shade structures.
Guidelines on how to avoid heat stroke at an LA bust stop.
The city’s preparations are particularly significant given the broader context of rising temperatures and increasing frequency of heatwaves in Southern California. The past decade has seen record-breaking temperatures and prolonged heatwaves, placing immense strain on public health and infrastructure. Los Angeles, with its sprawling urban landscape and significant population density, faces unique challenges that necessitate robust and innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat.
In anticipation of future heat waves, LA is investing in infrastructure upgrades to create a more heat-resilient environment. The installation of new bus shelters, funded with $80 million, is part of this effort, aimed at providing shade and cooling for transit users. Additionally, the city is working to retrofit public spaces like senior centres and libraries with solar panels and battery storage, transforming them into resilience hubs that can operate during power outages caused by extreme heat while creating an expanded network of cooling centers with other public agencies and privately owned facilities too
“Through our Heat Action & Resilience Plan, we will prioritize heat resilient infrastructure, focusing on equitable investments, in alignment with the Biden Administration’s Justice 40 initiative,” adds Segura.
The Heat Action Plan also aims to enhance cooling through phased-in decarbonization and passive cooling with appliances such as heat pumps, electric water heaters, induction stoves, and insulation and weatherization for city buildings, homes, and commercial buildings. This approach is supported by building codes and performance standards developed by the Building and Safety Department, aiming to lower the energy burden while preventing displacement and stabilizing tenants.
Nature-based solutions also play a vital role in LA’s strategy. The city is focusing on expanding its tree canopy, particularly in historically underserved neighbourhoods, to provide natural shade and cooling. Rebates and incentives for converting lawns to native plants are offered, promoting green spaces that enhance urban cooling. “Shade equity through bus shelters and shade structures across the City is also crucial,” Segura notes. “Our local utility provides rebates and incentives to convert your lawn to native plants, and our planning department is also prioritizing open space and vegetation to create healthy communities.”
As part of its long-term vision, LA is enhancing its urban forest management and collaborating with community-based organizations to implement these green solutions. The city’s Urban Forest Officer and Community Forest Action Committee are integral to these efforts, ensuring tree canopy equity and maintenance.
The importance of these initiatives cannot be overstated. Extreme heat is a silent, escalating disaster that threatens health, economy, and quality of life in Los Angeles. “We know Los Angeles and California will never get back to the old normal summers of the past,” Segura says. “The good news is we can preserve mobility, walkability and livability but we must act together with a level of commitment not seen before!”
As the city prepares to take the Olympic torch from Paris, its comprehensive heat resilience plan underscores a proactive approach to climate adaptation. The legacy of these efforts will extend far beyond the Games, setting a benchmark for other cities facing similar climate challenges and ensuring that the 2028 Olympics will be a celebration of athletic achievement and a demonstration of LA’s dedication to the wellbeing of its residents and visitors.
Learn more about the Race to Resilience and its partners working to combat extreme weather
The Race to Resilience is a global campaign aiming to help communities build resilience against the effects of climate change. The following initiatives are playing an important role in accelerating heat solutions across the globe.
The Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance (EHRA) is a coalition of leaders and practitioners dedicated to building heat resilience and protecting frontline communities from the worst impacts of extreme heat. Founded and convened by Arsht-Rock, EHRA is led by its diverse steering committee and advisory science panel.
Developing Risk Awareness through Joint Action (DARAJA) is a service and partnership that aims to improve weather and climate information services (WCIS), including early warnings of extreme weather, for urban users, specifically for residents of informal settlement. The DARAJA regional East Africa Scale Up Programme will focus on extreme heat and drought forecasting and reduction
The Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) brings together an unprecedented range of stakeholders across the climate, humanitarian and development communities with the aim of making people safer from disasters . Throughout 2023, REAP has worked with the UAE COP28 Presidency to shape their vision for EWEA, resulting in “Getting Ahead of Disasters: A Charter on Finance for Managing Risks”, launched at COP28 as one of the non-negotiated outcomes for the Health / Relief, Recovery and Peace Day. The Charter provides a roadmap towards better finance for disasters, prioritizing those at the frontlines of the climate crisis.
