"Adapting Cities to Record Heat: European and American Approaches"

Lawmakers in the United States are proposing legislation to treat extreme heat as a major disaster, similar to hurricanes and floods, in response to rising temperatures and their impact on people. The bipartisan "Extreme Heat Emergency Act" would add high temperatures to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's list of disasters, allowing for federal aid. On average, there are 702 heat-related deaths each year in the US, and the legislation aims to address the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Some lawmakers also link the heat to climate change and advocate for transitioning to greener energy alternatives.