Exploring Extreme Heat Policy: Best Practices & Recommendations for Heat Policymakers in Massachusetts from Applied Economics Clinic’s December 2024 Reports
January 15, 2025
While we are lucky to have strong recommendations for heat resilience through Boston’s 2022 Heat Plan and 20-Year Urban Forest Plan, as well as heat’s inclusion in the 2023 ResilientMass Plan statewide, policies are needed to codify best practice recommendations and move the needle on the implementation of equitable heat solutions. In December 2024, the Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) published a set of extreme heat policy reports on behalf of A Better City: an extreme heat policy brief with AEC’s recommendations for Massachusetts, and an extreme policy background report, which reviews existing policies and protocols for both short- and long-term heat resilience interventions in Massachusetts and in other jurisdictions. These reports were researched and written on behalf of A Better City.
In AEC’s review of existing policies for extreme heat and their provision of best practices and recommendations for Massachusetts, AEC discusses extreme heat policies both in terms of short-term heat emergency response, for example, heat emergency declaration protocols, emergency utility shutoff protections, grid demand management, resource allocation for heat-vulnerable populations, and EMS or hospital emergency protocols, as well as long-term heat resilience, for example, tree protection ordinances, deep energy retrofits, green roofs, and equitable access to cooling resources.
In AEC’s reports, 6 policy best practices are highlighted across both short-term heat emergency response, as well as long-term resilience:
- Applied Economics Clinic’s Heat Policy Best Practices: Create heat emergency preparedness and response plans and heat resiliency plans informed by temperature monitoring data; 2. Create and maintain publicly available online data tracking systems on heat-related risk and health impacts; 3. Establish electric disconnection bans for customers during extreme heat events; 4. Provide access to cooling services, distribution of fans, AC units, water and energy subsidies, and enlist community groups to support local residents; and 5. Evaluate data-driven state and municipal heat emergency protocols and assess heat advisory thresholds.
The AEC reports also offer 6 policy recommendations for Massachusetts to consider in addressing extreme heat:
- Applied Economics Clinic’s Heat Policy Recommendations for Massachusetts: Require municipalities to develop data-driven community heat emergency preparedness and response plans in partnership with local community; 2. Improve heat-related illness, temperature, and humidity record keeping and data tracking and provide real time heat exposure metrics; 3. Provide easily accessible online maps for residents to locate water stations, cooling stations, or other public services to aid in the event of extreme heat; 4. Take advantage of federal support for extreme heat preparedness and response; 5. Launch partnership with local healthcare and academic institutions in extreme heat research and policy assessment; and 6. Expand critical and green infrastructure investments in Massachusetts municipalities disparately impacted by extreme heat.
Rather than an either/or approach to heat resilience, policy solutions will have to employ a yes/and approach across both short-term emergency response and longer-term heat resilience interventions. The hope is that with AEC’s helpful reports, A Better City can create a set of policy principles for extreme heat resilience, which would help to protect vulnerable communities, critical infrastructure, and the regional economy in Massachusetts. For more information about A Better City’s heat work and to get involved in emerging policy discussions, please contact Isabella Gambill.
