USA: The District of Columbia’s extreme heat adaptation strategy

Keep Cool DC is the District’s extreme heat adaptation strategy. While hot weather may seem like just an inconvenience to some, it can be deadly: extreme heat is the leading cause of climate-related deaths in the United States. Extreme heat can pose serious health risks to people, damage infrastructure, harm the environment and impair economic productivity.

Washington, DC is experiencing warmer, more humid, and more prolonged summers than ever before. With summer temperatures projected to increase in years to come, it is critical for the District to “keep cool” by reducing the drivers that increase temperatures and expanding strategies that protect residents from heat.

To this end, the District of Columbia released Keep Cool DC in 2022. This document includes nine overarching strategies that District can take to reduce the drivers of extreme heat and protect District residents from the dangers of high temperatures.

These include four main strategies to reduce extreme heat the District: Increase Cool Spaces, Design for Heat, Enhance Tree Equity and Keep Learning. It also includes five strategies to keep residents safe in the heat; Improve Cooling Centers; Educate Residents About Heat Risks; Support Safety At Home; Support Safety Outdoors and Ensure Clean and Reliable Power.