If you’ve ever experienced a summer in Texas or Arizona, you understand that people in these areas know a thing or two about heat. In cities like Houston and Phoenix, leaders have developed proven strategies for how to manage the impact of higher temperatures, addressing issues related to infrastructure design and city service delivery, all with considerable human impact.
From an infrastructure perspective, extreme heat can result in additional strain to electrical grids, an acceleration of pavement deterioration, and a need to design structures (such as buildings, bus shelters, public parks, etc.) to minimize environmental impact, reduce costs, and optimize human health.
Related to city service delivery, heat resilience has a significant impact on several municipal departments, most notably first responders including emergency medical services (EMS) professionals who face greater demands to care for the community’s more vulnerable residents. Heat also impacts logistical decisions such as how to schedule city staff who work outdoors and how to adjust public transit options to accommodate travelers who must endure high temperatures. These are just a few of the many considerations.
Heat-resilience planning requires cities to connect public health, infrastructure, housing, mobility, emergency management, and community engagement. The complexity of these issues are prompting city leaders to consider questions such as how to develop innovative approaches, how to align public and private stakeholders, how to engage the public, and how to define what success looks like given the many unknowns.
These issues and opportunities will be center stage on Day 2 – September 23- of the Smart City Connect Conference & Expo. Four experts will share their field-tested experience during a panel titled, “So Hot Right Now: Scaling Heat-Resiliance with Leaders.”
City of Houston Councilmember Mario Castillo, City of Phoenix Chief Sustainability Officer Carla de la Chapa, Vice President of Planning & Economic Development at Downtown Houston+ Cassie Hoeprich, and City of Houston Chief of Staff for District H Russell Etherton will discuss how to strike the right balance between sustainable solutions, innovative infrastructure, and the public good.
The discussion will center on how to “overcome barriers, align priorities, and deliver climate-responsive infrastructure that creates cooler, more resilient public spaces.” The panelists’ varying roles, perspectives and geographies will offer a well-rounded view of how to bring people together so that sustainability and environmental efforts can also meet efficiency and equity goals.
Join us at Smart Cities Connect to hear from leaders who are turning heat-resilience goals into practical, community-centered action. This timely conversation will offer valuable insight for city officials, sustainability professionals, planners, technology partners, and anyone working to create safer, cooler, and more equitable public spaces.