We’re the mayors of Paris, Milan and Phoenix. The heat crisis has us all facing the same question

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Phoenix established one of the world’s first city offices dedicated to heat response and mitigation, reflecting an approach that focuses on both immediate relief from extreme heat, especially for those most vulnerable, and building resilience in the medium-long-term by implementing cooling solutions to make the city safer and more comfortable.

The city’s shade plans require 75% shade coverage in new development in areas with high pedestrian activity, and programs that support schools, transit users, and those most vulnerable. To further reduce the urban heat island effect, Phoenix is applying cool surface treatment to buildings and roadways, including on more than 300 kilometers of neighborhood streets.

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Paris and Milan bring different expertise as well as unique challenges.

Both are historic European cities where streets, buildings and public spaces were designed for a different time and a different climate. Today, both cities are adapting.

Every Parisian now lives within a seven-minute walk of a cool spot. The city now has more than 1,400 of these spaces where people can cool down during a heatwave, including parks, gardens and other public facilities. The city also extends opening hours for parks, swimming pools, and public baths during high temperatures. The city has mobilised a network of 27,000 climate volunteers to raise awareness within their communities of the climate crisis and heatwave adaptation strategies, alongside preventive actions.

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