Cities around the world have been testing a new strategy for communicating the dangers of extreme heat. They’re ranking heat waves according to their severity — and in some cases even naming them, the way weather agencies name hurricanes.
In theory, these systems could help improve public awareness about the health risks of extreme temperatures. That’s crucial as global temperatures continue to rise.
But in practice, it’s not clear how much of a difference they make. Most pilot programs ended after one or two summers — with relatively few scientific conclusions about their public impact.
“There are significant governance, operational and scientific concerns with naming heatwaves, and no evidence that they increase awareness or uptake of heat-preventive measures,” wrote Kristie Ebi, an expert on heat and public health at the University of Washington, in an email to E&E News.
