The plan focuses on three main goals: cooling outdoor spaces through shade, creating heat-resilient indoor environments and expanding heat safety communications
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the County Heat Action Plan on Feb. 4, a comprehensive framework to reduce risks from extreme heat and rising average temperatures across the region.
The plan, developed by the Chief Sustainability Office, focuses on three main goals: cooling outdoor spaces through shade, green infrastructure and heat-reducing surfaces; creating heat-resilient indoor environments in homes, schools and workplaces; and expanding heat safety communications, cooling center access and emergency response programs.
Extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States and contributes to more than 200 deaths annually in Los Angeles County. Heat-related emergency department visits have increased over decades, with projections showing continued growth without intervention. The plan aims to prevent 30% of projected heat-related emergency visits by 2045 through coordinated actions.
Since the 1980s, annual heatwaves have become more frequent, and average temperatures have risen 2°F to 3°F in many areas. Climate projections indicate accelerated warming, with inland communities facing the most severe increases. Heat already costs the county nearly $5 billion annually in lost worker productivity, with losses projected to exceed $11 billion by 2050.
