Integrating three plan evaluation approaches for coordinated heat resilience in cities across the Arizona urban corridor

This study examines how cities across the Arizona urban corridor incorporate heat resilience into their networks of plans, using an integrated assessment approach. The researchers applied three complementary plan evaluation methods—plan cross-referencing, Plan Quality Evaluation for Heat Resilience, and the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS™) for Heat—to a sample of 19 plans from seven Arizona cities of varied size and climate. The methodology involved identifying influential plans through citation network analysis, systematically scoring plan content against heat resilience principles and strategy types, and spatially mapping policies to assess attention to heat vulnerabilities across neighborhoods. The study focused on general, hazard mitigation, and climate action plans.

Findings reveal that Arizona cities’ plans have high-quality participation and coordination components but commonly lack detailed fact bases about vulnerability and climate change uncertainty. Plans contained more heat mitigation strategies, like urban forestry and green infrastructure, than management strategies, while explicit links to heat were often absent, especially in general plans. Spatial analysis showed variation in how policies target vulnerable areas, with most heat mitigation being locally focused. The authors recommend improving the integration and mainstreaming of heat considerations into all relevant plans, diversifying policy mechanisms, and enhancing evidence-based, spatially targeted approaches to address both current and future heat risks.