EXTREME HEAT COALITION: Catalyzing Legislative Action to Protect Communities
Extreme heat is the deadliest impact of climate change, and communities of color are the most affected. In New York City, for example, 50 percent of the heat-related deaths are among Black/African American people, even though they make up only 25 percent of the city’s population. This disparity can be traced back to policies like redlining that have resulted in decades of divestment in these communities, which are now burdened with older, often poorly maintained and energy inefficient housing stock, fewer street trees and green spaces, and lower wage job opportunities.
New York City and New York State have been slow to respond to the public health threat of extreme heat, and the responses they have undertaken are often poorly funded and fail to address the inequitable impacts. That’s why WE ACT for Environmental Justice joined forces with South Bronx Unite, Earthjustice, Groundwork Hudson Valley, New York Disaster Interfaith Services, NRDC, and HeartShare Human Services to form the Extreme Heat Coalition, with the goal of catalyzing legislative action that protects heat-vulnerable urban communities throughout the state. You can download our 2024 Extreme Heat Policy Agenda here.
TAKE ACTION
We urge all New York City residents to sign this petition urging the New York City Council and Speaker Adrienne Adams to co-sponsor and pass the Right to Cooling Bill Package, which includes:
- Intro 0994/Tenant’s Right to Cooling – Requires landlords to provide and maintain cooling devices to keep homes no hotter than 78°F in the summer;
- Intro 0998/Codify Cooling Centers – Establishes a permanent cooling center program for vulnerable populations; and
- Intro 0928/Cool Pavement Pilot – Launches a pilot project for cool pavement to reduce urban heat.
The temperature may have cooled off, but don’t let your activism cool off! Take action today and sign this petition to protect New Yorkers from extreme heat! Sign the Petition
JOIN OUR COALITION
If your organization is active on heat issues in a major metropolitan area in New York State, we encourage you to join the coalition by contacting caleb.smith@weact.org.