Arsht-Rock Resilience Center

The Maricopa county medical examiner reported 162 suspected heat-related deaths and 13 confirmed heat deaths. That is a staggering 84% increase from last year. The number of heat-related deaths have been on the rise—and not just in Phoenix. https://bit.ly/3xRtbiH Amidst a searing heat wave, 4 people lost their lives to heat illness in Japan this week. And just last month, Saudi Arabia reported over 1,300 deaths after people were exposed to 50°C (122°F) heat during parts of the Hajj pilgrimage without access to adequate shade, rest, and water. Even more dangerous, heat-related deaths are likely undercounted. Academics, medical authorities, and governments struggle to get accurate numbers because of the complex nature of heat illnesses. Heat is a dangerous, silent killer, but most deaths are preventable with proper preparation and interventions. Learn how governments can respond to keep their cities safer. https://bit.ly/3Y1S7ip

“The Mediterranean—in fact, all of Europe—is heating up twice as fast as the global average,” Global Chief Heat Officer Eleni (Lenio) Myrivili told the Greek Current. This past month, Greece recorded its hottest June in over six decades. These high temperatures come with significant costs. Eleni joined Thanos Davelis to discuss what Athens is up against as temperatures rise. In addition to the significant and sobering health impacts, she considered the lesser acknowledged costs of heat, like business slowdowns, infrastructural strain, and heat-related injuries in workplaces. With predictions for a staggeringly hot July, the country has put heat on the agenda. Listen to Eleni's latest interview to learn about the ongoing efforts to build urban heat resilience in the city of Athens. https://bit.ly/3VXmfsr

Today, the City of Los Angeles' Cool Spots app is in our #SolutionSpotlight. 🌡️ The city has "six times the number of heat waves we once did, with more exposure from heat stagnated air pollution and less time for our bodies to recover,” Chief Heat Officer Marta Segura told Patricia Cummens for ESRI. To ensure city residents had access to cooling, the city's Climate Emergency Mobilization Office and Chief Heat Officer Marta Segura developed the Cool Spots LA app. Residents can use the application to identify the closest cooling centers, hydration stations, recreation centers, public pools, and libraries. The app makes heat resilience accessible, and helps residents recognize the cooling resources in their own neighborhoods. Learn about the efforts the city is leading to keep people cool and protected from the heat. https://bit.ly/3vGPl5S

Today, we’re shining the #SolutionSpotlight on the first Heat Action Plan for Thane, India! Heat action plans bring together diverse actors and coordinate the preparation, response, and recovery stages of heat management. Developed by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), the city's Heat Action Plan comprehensively outlines mitigation, preparedness, and response strategies for the city of over 2 million people. The plan also includes a “responsibilities matrix” that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the different agencies that work together to respond to extreme heat. And Thane is not alone. Other cities around the world have developed their own plans. From Miami-Dade County to Jodhpur, heat action plans are preparing cities to mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change. Want to learn more? Our Heat Action Platform has a dedicated module to the creation and implementation of heat action plans. You’ll hear directly from leading experts Jane Gilbert and Abhiyant Tiwari as they explain how they supported the development of heat action plans in their own communities. https://bit.ly/4f0UCYn

Extreme heat is on the White House agenda. https://bit.ly/45PsTFM The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed new federal regulations to protect workers from extreme heat. Under the rule, when the heat index reaches 80°F, employers would be required to provide water and rest areas for workers to cool off. At 90°F, even more protections would kick in. As heat waves become more frequent and last longer, many workers are exposed to dangerous and even deadly heat. Between 2011 and 2020, there were over 33,000 heat-related injuries and illnesses in the workplace. If finalized, this rule could protect over 36 million workers and make their work safer. Owen Gow and Catherine Wallace shared their reaction to this new announcement. Learn more about this proposed rule and what it could mean for the United States: https://bit.ly/45PsTFM

🌎 What if people could learn about climate change through games? https://bit.ly/3KZRA8M At the Arsht-Rock Resilience Center, we're making that a reality. This past week, we showcased those efforts at gamescom latam! Shayne Hayes and Chance Glasco 🔜 Gamescom Latam were on the ground to share two of the games in our climate games portfolio: Heat Wave Survival and Good Dog Studios Martial Arts Tycoon Brazil. In both games, climate knowledge and actionable solutions are made accessible. Players learn through the games and begin to recognize real-world applications. In Martial Arts Tycoon Brazil, for example, players can learn how to stay cool as they work to protect their own fighters in the game when a heat alert strikes. Learn more about these two games and all the others in our climate games portfolio 👉 https://bit.ly/3KZRA8M

Live from Brazil, Shayne Hayes shares a look at our booth at gamescom latam! The exciting event connects players and industry leaders. With over 400 game stations and 50 unreleased games to preview, gamescom offers an exciting look at what's next in gaming. Our team is proud to be a part of these numbers! We're sharing two games in our booth: 🕹️ Our new game for Minecraft Education: Heat Wave Survival 🎮 Our advisor Chance Glasco 🔜 Gamescom Latam's upcoming game Martial Arts Tycoon Brazil In both games, players learn about extreme heat in accessible and fun ways. Our goal is to put real climate knowledge and actionable solutions directly into players' hands. Learn more about these two games and all the others in our climate games portfolio 👉 https://bit.ly/3KZRA8M

This week, London Climate Action Week has put climate finance on the international agenda. Communities and climate leaders have come together to explore how the city and the world can advance climate resilience. One of the key opportunities is funding. The world has solutions, but we need to rapidly scale and deliver solutions that protect people from climate impacts now and in the future. Our Global Policy and Finance Advisor Sabrina Nagel is on the ground to share what is coming out of the conversations in London. You can explore our site to learn more about the powerful opportunities for adaptation finance. https://bit.ly/3FTABlF

The New Agenda for Urban Resilience Action is here! 📣 https://lnkd.in/e59vJF9H Earlier this year, our Director Jorge Gastelumendi and our advisor Mauricio Rodas joined other leading climate experts to advance conversations on urban resilience. The convening resulted in the newly launched agenda. The new agenda recognizes the critical role cities play in global climate resilience. Cities are already home to 55% of the world's population, and that figure is expected to grow to 68% by 2050. What happens in cities affects billions, and we need to scale impact. By informing national policies, accelerating investments, and systematically building cities' resilience efforts, we can achieve meaningful change for billions. The Arsht-Rock Resilience Center is a proud signatory to this call to action, and we invite other city leaders, policymakers, urban resilience stakeholders, and financial actors to join the call. Together, we can turn these commitments into action, ensuring cities can adapt and thrive. A huge thank you to our fellow signatories the City of Cape Town, the City of Oakland, the City of Rio de Janeiro, Glasgow City Council, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in the US, Arup, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Penn Institute for Urban Research, Vulpes Investment Management, Allison Ahern, Andy Deacon, Angel Eduardo Cardenas Sosa, Daniel Hamilton, Daniel Stander, Debra Roberts, Eugenie Birch, Fitsum A. Gelaye, MCP, Gareth Morgan, Ilaria Giuliani, Isabel Parra (She/Her), Jo da Silva DBE, Jorge Gastelumendi, Katrin Bruebach, Kirsten Dunlop, Lauren Sorkin, Lina Liakou, Lucas Wosgrau Padilha, Lynette Lim, Mauricio Rodas, Sadiq Currimbhoy, Susan Aitken, Zairil Khir Johari, and Resilient Cities Network.

📣 We’re on the ground for gamescom latam, one of the largest games events in the world! Our experts Shayne Hayes and Chance Glasco 🔜 Gamescom Latam are in São Paulo, Brazil to spotlight our work and share the exciting progress we’ve made over the past year. At the Arsht-Rock Resilience Center, we work directly with game developers, designers, and studios to embed climate resilience in an engaging and accessible way. Through games, we put real skills and actionable solutions directly into players' hands. Learn how we’re reaching millions of people around the world and explore our climate games portfolio 👉 https://bit.ly/3KZRA8M