Record-breaking deadly heatwaves are hurting northern and southern hemispheres. From India to Thailand, from U.S. to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, Greece, a part of Russia, scores of countries have been/are being hit by unprecedented heatwaves, taking high toll – hundreds dead, thousands in hospital, millions of people suffering. The planet seems overheated.
These impacts are disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups, notably including outdoor workers, the unhoused, low-income residents, and marginalized populations including e.g. indigenous communities. In urban contexts, poor housing conditions, limited access to cooling services, heat islands, and informal settlements intensify heat impacts, particularly in Mexico and Central America.
A recent study (Extreme heat killing more than 100 people in Mexico hotter and much more likely due to climate change, https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/112370/6/scientific%20report_HW_Central_america.pdf) has concluded that maximum temperatures during the heat wave that struck much of Mexico, Central America, and parts of the southern U.S. were made hotter and 35 times more likely because of human-induced warming. The hotter nighttime temperatures they analyzed during the streak of sweltering heat were made 200 times more likely.
Scientists have found global temperatures climbing high caused by accumulation of heat-trapping gases significantly increase the odds of deadly heat waves occurring and making them more intense.
Scientists from Mexico, Panama, Sweden, UK and U.S., have conducted a study to see how much rising temperatures caused by human activity influence the likelihood and intensity of heat waves.
“As long as humans fill the atmosphere with fossil-fuel emissions, the heat will only get worse. Vulnerable people will continue to die and the cost of living will continue to increase,” said Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological and co-author of the study, per The Guardian.
Heat: Number 1 Weather-related Cause Of Death in U.S.
Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the U.S., killing more people in most years than tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods combined. Maricopa County, Arizona, has reported six confirmed heat-related deaths already this year. The medical examiner’s office is investigating more than 100 other deaths to see how many of them were heat-related.
Mexico
The report said:
More than 100 people died in extreme heat in Mexico since March, and thousands of others in the country were victims of heat strokes.
Deadly heat waves this summer have also hit Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Toll: Unknown
The report said:
The total toll heat has taken on Central America is still unknown. The region as like other regions of the world with alarming poverty level is vulnerable because of high poverty levels and an inadequate way to warn its citizens of impending heat.
Main Findings
The main findings of the study include:
● The extreme heat in the north and Central America has resulted in severe impacts, including more than 125 heat-related deaths in Mexico since March, thousands of cases of heat stroke, and power outages. We likely do not know the full picture of heat-related deaths, since they are usually only confirmed and reported months after the event, if at all.
● Existing drought conditions have further aggravated the situation by preventing the dispersion of polluting particles, decreasing water availability, and reducing hydropower generation and electricity supply.
● Observations show that 5-day maximum temperatures in May-June such as recorded this year are expected to occur about every 15 years in today’s climate that has been warmed by 1.2C. However, around the year 2000, when global temperatures were half a degree lower than now, such events were expected to occur only about once every 60 years.
● The nighttime temperatures over the same 5-day period were also high, but not extreme in today’s climate; there is now a 50% chance per year of similar temperatures occurring. At the turn of the millennium, such events would only have been expected to occur with a 13% chance in any given year.
● These return times are estimated for the region as a whole. It is important to highlight that the heat was more rare in the southeastern part of the region, especially for the nighttime temperatures with return periods of up to 1000 years in individual locations.
● To determine the role of climate change we combine observations with climate models and we conclude that human-induced warming from burning fossil fuels made the 5-day maximum temperature event about 1.4 degrees hotter and about 35 times more likely. For nighttime temperatures, this is about 1.6 degrees hotter and about 200 times more likely.
● These trends will continue with future warming and events like the one observed in 2024 will be very common in a 2C world.
● Extreme heat warning systems and action plans can help fill important gaps in preparedness across Central America. Heat safety protection laws can be enacted and implemented to protect outdoor workers across all countries.
● Strengthened grid resilience and water conservation strategies are critical to ensure reliable services during heat events. Improved urban planning, more green spaces, and enhanced infrastructure in informal settlements will also help protect the most vulnerable.
Temp. Records Broken
Citing sources, the study report said:
Since the end of May and continuing into the first part of June 2024, the Southwest U.S., Mexico, and the northern part of Central America have been suffering impacts related to extreme daytime and nighttime heat. National monthly Tmax records have been broken in Mexico (X, X) and Guatemala (X), annual Tmax records have been broken in Honduras (X) and across the southern U.S., annual average temperature records have been broken in the southwest U.S. (X), and national Tmin records have been broken in Mexico (X).
The southern portion of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, experienced new records of maximum temperature (Tmax), reaching 44.7°C and a heat index of 52.1°C on 17 May (X). The month of May was ranked as the warmest May in historical records. While some parts of the country (central and southeast) have since had relief from the scorching temperatures due to the rainy season, the same is not true for the northern part of the country. On 13 June, Mexico reached a Tmax of 51.9°C, the hottest June day ever recorded in the country (X). In the United States of America, the temperature reached 43.9°C in Las Vegas, 44.4°C in Phoenix and 50°C in Death Valley (NWS, 2024) on 6 June.
Stark Contrasts, Vulnerabilities Increased
The report said:
The 2024 heatwave hit early in the summer season, in a year characterized by a stark contrast from a cooler winter associated with El Niño. The extreme heat hit areas with both high population density and high vulnerability, increasing the impact of the heat. Vulnerabilities and impacts have been exacerbated by forest fires which have ravaged large swathes of land, notably in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, exacerbating air pollution levels and prompting health advisories and emergency measures, including banned outdoor activities at schools In Mexico, existing drought conditions have further aggravated the situation, by preventing the dispersion of polluting particles, as well as decreasing water availability and impacting hydropower generation and electricity supply.
Dengue
The report said:
Extreme heat increases the risk of dengue, and Latin America and the Caribbean is currently facing its worst outbreak in recorded history with 3.5 million people infected and over 1000 deaths recorded.
10Times More Than 2022
The scientists said:
Mexico experienced one of the deadliest heatwaves last year with 421 deaths 10 times more than in 2022 and 47 times more than in 2013, according to official numbers. This year, the toll so far (up to 12 June) is 125 deaths associated with the heatwave and 2,308 affected by heat stroke.
Since the beginning of the year, up to today, 5837 forest fires have been registered, covering an extension of almost 619,761.73 ha.
Birds And Monkeys
The report said:
There are reports that due to the extreme temperatures, birds and hundreds of howler monkeys fell to the ground.
Furthermore, this event has shown that the electrical sector might not be prepared to face these extreme temperatures. Several blackouts have been reported during this heatwave.
Economic Burden: $500 Billion in 2050
The report added:
In the U.S., extreme heat currently imposes an economic burden of $100 billion annually, a figure projected to rise to $500 billion by 2050. This substantial cost stems from factors including increased healthcare expenses, higher energy demands for cooling, and losses in labor productivity. Notably, Texas alone is responsible for nearly one-third of the national labor productivity losses due to heat stress, highlighting the state’s significant vulnerability to extreme heat. In California, annual heat-related emergency visits averaged more than 5,000 between 2010 and 2020, underscoring the heightened vulnerability of populations such as older adults, infants, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic conditions.
In 2023, heat-related deaths in the Phoenix, Arizona region increased by 52% compared to the previous year with the most heat related deaths ever recorded.
Labor Productivity
The scientists said:
Mexico, heat and humidity are estimated to lead to $1.8 billion of economic loss due to reduced annual labor productivity, projected to double by 2050.
Outdoor Workers
The scientists said:
The recent Lancet report on Latin America, covering El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, states that heat-related deaths and risks for outdoor workers across the region have increased significantly. For example, Honduras saw a 204% increase in estimated annual average number of heat-related fatalities from the 2000-2009 to 2013-2022.
Increased Heat Dome
The report added:
The area experiencing intense heat is under the influence of a large and lingering region of high pressure or anticyclonic circulation, known as a ‘heat dome’. A jet stream anomaly facilitated the eastward transport of very warm air across Mexico. The rising warm surface air within a heat dome is effectively trapped under subsiding air from above and continues to warm from incoming sunshine, with clearer than normal skies. The associated subsidence in this case led to the driest spring on record for Mexico. Excessive heat combined with antecedent dryness, worsens drought conditions. Heat and drought are commonly linked in a feedback loop – heat exacerbates drought, which, in turn, worsens heat. During this period, hot temperatures were experienced across Central America and the U.S., including Texas and Florida. Warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific and Gulf of Mexico increased humidity levels, exacerbating discomfort in addition to the already excessive temperatures. In a recent study, it was found that this type of atmospheric circulation over the region is projected to increase and, with this, an increase in heat events and affected population.
The report cited weather events in the regions of northern and southern Americas.
Central America
It said:
Extremely high maximum and minimum temperatures have increased globally since 1950 and across most land areas, including Central America.
North America
The report said:
In North America, minimum temperatures have increased consistently across the region, while maximum temperatures show smaller or no trends in some parts of the region.
Observations reveal a clear increase in the intensity and frequency of hot days over these regions while heatwave length and intensity have increased less than in most other land areas of the world.
Global Hotspot
Citing a study the report said:
Anthropogenic greenhouse gases increased the likelihood of heatwaves using three different heatwave indicators, but that aerosol-induced cooling, in particular between 1950 and 1980, masked these trends and in some places even led to small cooling trends.
This region stands out as a global hotspot, both in observations and projections, with stronger trends in absolute summer maximum temperatures in northern Mexico and the southern U.S. and stronger trends in nighttime temperatures in southern Mexico and Central America.
Based on the impacts and record temperatures described above, the scientists defined the area as a large region encompassing Mexico and neighboring states. In the north, this region includes Texas, most of New Mexico and Arizona, and it extends to the west coast such that Las Vegas is within the study area. In the south, the region includes Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
The scientists analyzed the hottest 5-day temperatures in the months May and June, Tx5x.
They also included impacts related to nighttime heat, and additionally, studied the hottest 5-night temperatures in May-June, Tn5x.
They focused on the months May and June rather than an annual maximum averaged over the whole study area. Averaged over the study region, the hottest 5-day period occurred over 3-7 June and the hottest 5-night period occurred over 5-9 June.
Critical Concern Across The Globe
The scientists said:
Extreme heat events are increasingly becoming a critical concern across the globe, affecting millions and posing substantial risks to human health, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
They outlined factors that drive vulnerability and exposure in the U.S.-Southwest, Mexico, and parts of Central America, noting that there are vast differences in capacity, awareness, and impacts in these places.
Agricultural Laborers And Miners
The scientists said:
Vulnerability across the region is particularly pronounced among outdoor workers, including agricultural laborers and miners, who face direct exposure and strenuous conditions exacerbated by heat stress.
Homeless Population
The scientists added:
Unhoused populations, pregnant individuals, young children, and older adults are also at heightened risk due to physiological factors and limited access to cooling facilities.
Prisoners
The scientists said:
Incarcerated populations and guards in facilities lacking adequate cooling further highlight systemic inequities exacerbated by extreme heat.
Migrants And Refugees
The scientists said:
Refugees and migrants in transit are also particularly vulnerable, due to the often long, dangerous, and physiologically heavy journey, high exposure to temperatures, and limited coping capacity.
Psychosocial Health Including Suicide
The scientists said:
Beyond physical health impacts, extreme heat poses risks to psychosocial health, with increased incidence of anxiety, depression, irritability, sleep disruption, cognitive impairment, aggression, and suicidal ideation.
Across the U.S. and Mexico, suicide rates increase by 0.7% and 2.1%, respectively, for every 1C increase in monthly average temperature.
Overall, these vulnerabilities intersect with socioeconomic factors such as poverty, occupational hazards, and historical policies influencing housing conditions and healthcare access.
Higher frequency, Severity, Duration
The report added:
Previously rare occurrences of extreme heat are now more frequent across the spatial domain, with maximum and minimum temperatures showing a 15 and 2-year return period, respectively, reflecting 22 a trend towards higher frequency, severity, and duration. These changes are already exacerbating long-term health impacts and strain critical sectors like agriculture, water resources, and energy.
Understanding the key drivers of heat risk, along with risk mitigating factors, is crucial for effective risk management and adaptation strategies. This vulnerability and exposure analysis will delve deeper into and offer insights on the facets of vulnerability, exposure and coping capacity to extreme heat across the study region.
High- And Low-Income Countries
The scientists said in their report:
In high-income countries, heat is predominantly addressed as a health issue, especially in urban settings. Conversely, in low and middle-income countries, heat adaptations emphasize agricultural and livelihood impacts, viewing heat primarily as a compound hazard alongside drought and other hydrological threats.
Citing an Oxford Climate Change research report and other study reports, the scientists said:
The U.S. is one of the most extensively studied countries regarding extreme heat adaptation, while there is a notable lack of analysis on extreme heat adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Urban centers tend to concentrate heat impacts, in part, due to higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect.
Urban populations are currently estimated at 108 million in Mexico and 31 million in Central America. Projected growth in urban areas in the region is consistent across three future scenarios, increasing from 90 million people in 2010 to approximately 140 million by 2050. This growth is accompanied by urban sprawl through land-use changes to tackle rapid urbanization, the loss of natural reserves, and a rise in informal settlements, a dynamic that has contributed to a heat island effect. Home to over 400,000 people, more than 2,000 informal settlements along the Texas-Mexico border, called Colonias, are notably vulnerable due to poor housing conditions, lack of access to basic services and infrastructure, and social and physical isolation.
Urban Heat Islands
They said:
Urban heat islands are a byproduct of the built environment, causing cities to experience more heat than rural areas because man-made structures like buildings, streets, and sidewalks retain more heat than natural surfaces, further exacerbated by waste heat emissions. In major and mid-sized cities in Mexico and Central America there has been a significant deterioration of natural spaces and changes in land use on a large scale, which is related to both informal and formal growth, gravely damaging existing ecosystems, generating significant losses in biodiversity. Despite a fair proportion of the region’s territories being officially declared protected areas, there are many challenges derived from the financial, technical, and human resources limitations to guaranteeing the enforcement of these regulations. These cities also suffer from high levels of congestion and high motorization rates, which contribute to air pollution to further exacerbate health impacts when combined with extreme heat.
Los Angeles
The report said:
Los Angeles is known for having one of the most intense heat islands in the world: temperatures in the city centre can exceed 5°C higher than in adjacent areas. The urban typology is a determining factor. The centers of North American cities, with greater concentration and height of buildings and less trees, generate greater heat islands.
Disproportionate Affect
The report said:
Extreme temperatures have already caused deaths in Mexico, occurring mainly in cities. Certain neighborhoods and population groups are disproportionately affected by urban heat.
Low-Income Population
The scientists added:
Low-income populations are more likely to reside in hotter areas and face higher air pollution levels than those in wealthier neighborhoods, partly due to higher densities and the unequal distribution of green spaces. They are also more susceptible to health issues caused by heat waves and stormwater flooding, among other compounded climate change impacts.
Informal Settlement
The scientists said:
Informal settlements, which constitute about 29% of the urban population in Central America, typically have houses made from low-cost materials like tin sheets roofs. These houses often have poor ventilation and insulation, offering little protection from heat stress. The city’s problems demonstrate the connection between the historical processes of transformation, power and access to the city’s resources, and shed light on the issue of vulnerability. In particular, women are among the most vulnerable groups in the region along with indigenous communities characterized for having a lack of access to basic services and infrastructure.
Urban Poor
The scientists said:
The urban poor are also more likely to work in occupations requiring outdoor and physical labor, and they often are not provided labor and social protections.
Electricity
The study report said:
Sustained, high temperatures can reduce the capacity and efficiency of electricity generation. This is compounded by an increased burden on electricity grids through the expanded use of cooling infrastructure. When heatwaves impact broader regions, there is reduced capacity to draw on neighboring countries for power generation.
Generally, Mexico faces constrained coping capacity due to socio-economic factors of vulnerability and uneven distribution of urban services. At the end of 2023, the dams of the Cutzamala system were at 30% of their capacity at the end of 2023, with the reservoir levels further affected by the heat dome of 2024. Subsequently, a water security crisis was triggered in the capital. The water supply for large cities is at risk from the same drought as 80% of the territory suffered a certain degree of drought this season, which could challenge a water supply system that is already being outpaced by urban growth. In Mexico, this led to rolling blackouts across 20 of 32 states, with the national grid declaring a state of emergency at least twice by early May. High temperatures have caused the population to resort to cooling systems, mostly electric, which has resulted in higher energy consumption and impacted household spending.
With Mexico’s urban population expected to surge by 2050, measures under Mexico City’s Climate Action Plan aim to mitigate climate risks and manage increasing cooling demands.
Blackout
The report said:
Similarly in Honduras, blackouts impacted urban centers for two up to hours at a time.
While the majority of Mexico’s population is urban, rural healthcare access is still a significant barrier, notably for indigenous individuals and older adults.
Texas
The report added:
The electricity system of Texas is particularly vulnerable to failure as it relies on its own grid while other States are relying on one of two other systems. Moreover, the State has a deregulated power market which saw an increase of prices by 1600% in early May due to higher energy demands.
Electricity Bill
The report said:
A recent survey in Texas found that 33% of Texans have paid their 24 electricity bills late at least once in the last 12 months, with 7% indicating that their accounts were escalated to a collections agency. Individuals in the State who are unable to pay their power bill may apply to the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program, a program, which helps low-income households with financial assistance to pay for energy bills. However to qualify, households must be 150% below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This leaves a significant gap in assistance for individuals who are low-income but do not meet the threshold.
Water System
It said:
Heatwaves also threaten water systems, especially when compounded by droughts, as was the case in many of the focus countries. Water storage levels in the Cutzamala system are reported to be critically low at 31% threatening a major source of drinkable water.
In May, there were approximately 20 million individuals dealing with intermittent water supply due to low rainfall.
Health System
The report said:
Information on the impact of health systems is currently quite limited. However, a number of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion are likely to have occurred over the region during this period. In the US, some areas are piloting alternative approaches for heat stroke while transporting individuals to health centers, such as ice immersion.
Alternative Policy
The scientists said:
Alternative policies include introducing heat safety protection for outdoor workers.
It is evident that prolonged heat events are stressing systems that are not designed to deal with chronic heat, further compounded by major population growth in high-risk communities in states such as Arizona and Texas.
Farmworkers: 20 Times More Likely To Die
The scientists said:
Agricultural workers face significant vulnerabilities due to heat exposure, with farmworkers in the U.S. being twenty times more likely to die from heat-related causes compared to other workers.
Heat exposure in the agricultural sector is responsible for up to 2,000 worker fatalities and 170,000 heat-related injuries annually in the US, with a 1% increase in workplace injuries for every 1°C increase in temperature.
Sugarcane Workers In Central America
The study report said:
In Central America, particularly among sugarcane workers, there is an epidemic of chronic kidney disease attributed to excessive heat exposure and dehydration, coupled with strenuous physical labor. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in Guatemala and El Salvador, where workers performing more strenuous tasks, such as cane cutting and pesticide application, show higher rates of impaired kidney function.
Migrant agricultural workers in regions like Sonora, Mexico, also face extreme heat exposure. These workers, often from poorer regions of Southern Mexico, are particularly vulnerable due to their socioeconomic status and lack of alternatives.
Targeted Intervention
The report said:
Studies have highlighted the need for targeted interventions to improve hydration and prevent heat stress, as a significant number of these workers are dehydrated post work-shifts. Despite the effectiveness of simple measures centred on increasing water, rest, and shade, barriers such as the piece-rate compensation system, lack of interest from employers, and insufficient regulations hinder their implementation.
Cooling Intervention
The report said:
Effective cooling interventions must consider workers’ perceptions and practicalities. For instance, bandanas have been well-received for their practicality, while cooling vests received mixed reviews 25 regarding their feasibility at work. Some of the farmworkers themselves advocate for more frequent rest breaks, shaded areas, personal cooling gear, and heat stress prevention training.
However, the economic burden of purchasing cooling devices is often beyond their financial reach. The agricultural sector itself is vulnerable to extreme heat, which affects crop yields, pollinator health, and overall food security.
Planting Area
The scientists said:
Extreme heat events have been shown to decrease planting areas, as observed among subsistence farmers in Peru. In Mexico, corn production fell by 50% during 2023. Rising global temperatures are expected to significantly reduce the yields of staple grains such as maize and wheat. Additionally, the suitability for coffee cultivation, a key crop in the regional economy, is projected to decline.
Crop Failure
The study report said:
Compound effects of drought and heat exacerbate vulnerabilities, leading to crop failures and increased disease vectors, thus threatening food security.
In Mexico, periods of drought and declining agricultural productivity drive significant migration to the U.S.
Insects
The scientists said:
Insect pollinators face heightened vulnerability owing to extreme temperatures, reduced water availability, and additional compounding hazards, underscoring the imperative for policies aimed at stabilizing global warming, bolstering local habitat preservation, and enhancing public awareness on the importance of pollinators.
To mitigate these impacts and threats, there is a critical need for unified heat safety regulations across states, as exemplified by legislative actions in California, and to address the socioeconomic vulnerabilities of migrant workers who face heightened risks and fear of retaliation.
Investing in worker safety not only protects health but also offers significant economic benefits by reducing lost productivity.
Heat Governance
The scientists said:
Government heat action planning and individual response capabilities vary significantly across the study region including the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, reflecting stark disparities in resources and infrastructure.
Even within the U.S., there are notable differences in heat preparedness and awareness between states. This disparity underscores the broader challenge of addressing climate-induced health risks in an equitable manner across diverse socioeconomic and political landscapes. Furthermore, the full range of preparedness and responses for this heat event across the region is still unknown until further reports come out, and generally, heatwave strategies are not always documented. Still, it is clear that in some countries within this region, limited capacity hampers effective responses to extreme heat events.
Early Warning System
The report said:
At present, Central America, including Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras, has no early warning systems for extreme heat and no heat action plans.
A report on extreme heat in Central and South America found that even when warnings for extreme heat are issued across the region, limited actions are taken. In Mexico, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued multiple warnings for the extreme heat, stating the third heat wave will end on Tuesday, May 28, and more extreme heat is expected in June. Due to the extreme temperatures, together with high levels of air pollution, the authorities have restricted car use, and advised Mexico City’s residents to limit outdoor activities, avoid (outdoor) physical activity, and refrain from refueling vehicles in the 26 afternoon.
Although no formal heat action plan is in place, various response measures have taken place during previous heat events.
In addition, research is currently being conducted to co-develop, test, and evaluate a user-driven heat-health action plan across six rural communities in southern Mexico. This will also include an early warning and surveillance system, capacity building, prevention education and communication tools. In addition, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation is developing a real-time heat event surveillance system.
During last year’s heatwave across Mexico, local governments decided on response measures, which were adapted by the Mexican Red Cross state delegations to fit specific needs of the local population. Different states took actions such as public awareness campaigns, installing drinking fountains and shade shelters, and adjusting school schedules. A focus was also put on monitoring heatwave alerts and preparedness.
Another example of limited capacity building includes Monterrey’s Chief Heat officer, who was in place from 2022 to 2023 and worked on building awareness as well as investments in the built environment. Monterrey became the first City Champion for Heat Action (CCHA) for Mexico and Central America. In addition, other cities such as Mérida encouraged citizen participation in reforestation and developed digital tools for urban tree management. Such actions are crucial, as some people have limited options to adapt. For example, most residents within the metropolitan area of Mexico’s City do not own air conditioners, and where other means such as fans are available, these are not sufficient to maintain thermal comfort.
Across the U.S., the National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Centre provides various forecast products to understand forecasted extreme heat anomalies.
The NWS also has a HeatRisk tool, which provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts to occur for the coming 7 days. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Heat & Health tracker, which provides real-time health information, showing how heat is affecting counties, populations that are at risk, and resources for response.
The study report said:
Government heat action planning and individual response capabilities vary significantly across the United States, Mexico, and Central America, reflecting stark disparities in resources and infrastructure.
Even within the U.S, there are notable differences in heat preparedness and awareness between states. The studied countries within Central America have no heat governance systems.
Further, across the studied area, water and electricity systems are not resilient to the compounding shocks experienced with the hot-dry events. Extreme heat warning systems and action plans can help fill critical gaps in preparedness across Central America.
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Heat safety protection laws can be strengthened or implemented to protect outdoor workers across all countries. Further, strengthened grid resilience and water conservation strategies are critical to ensure reliable services during heat events.
Improved urban planning, more green spaces, and enhanced infrastructure in informal settlements will also help protect the most vulnerable.
The scientists conducting the study are: Izidine Pinto (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, The Netherlands); Clair Barnes (Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK); Sjoukje Philip (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, The Netherlands); Sarah Kew (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, The Netherlands); Ruth Cerezo-Mota (Laboratorio de Ingeniería y Procesos Costeros, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal,Yucatán, México); Arielle Tannenbaum (Climate Central, Princeton, New Jersey, US); Shel Winkley (Climate Central, Princeton, New Jersey, US); Andrew Pershing (Climate Central, Princeton, New Jersey, US); Maja Vahlberg (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the Hague, The Netherlands (based in Ubmeje/Umeå, Sweden); Carolina Pereira Marghidan (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the Hague, Netherlands, KNMI, De Bilt, Netherlands, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands); Karina Izquierdo (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the Hague, Netherlands (based in Mexico City, Mexico); Sajanika Sivanu (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the Hague, Netherlands (based in Bonn, Germany); Ladd Keith, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA; Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN); Michael Kleeman, University of San Diego, San Diego, USA; American Red Cross, Scientific Advisory Council, US); Friederike E L Otto, Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK.
