In 2023, the Federation of American Scientists engaged 85+ experts in conversations around federal policies needed to address extreme heat, yielding over 100 recommendations to address extreme heat’s impacts and build community resilience.

These recommendations represent the building blocks of a whole-of-government strategy on extreme heat, spanning six distinct topic areas: infrastructure and the built environment, workforce safety and development, public health, medical preparedness, and health security, food security and multi-hazard resilience, planning and response, and data and indices.

Cornell Public Health’s Alistair Hayden and Amie Patchen helped author three policy memos:

1. Defining Disaster: Incorporating Heat Waves And Smoke Waves Into Disaster Policy
2. A Comprehensive Strategy To Address Extreme Heat In Schools
3. Tracking And Preventing The Health Impacts Of Extreme Heat