New York City Assesses Extreme Heat Climate Risk

Assessed climate risk

• New York City derived temperature and precipitation projections by using a matrix of 35 Global Climate Model simulations under two Representative Concentration Pathways.

• USGCRP provides simulations for projected precipitation change.

Incorporated climate risk within adaptation and response plans

• Established a city panel (New York City Panel on Climate Change) to inform its climate activities.
• Developed a Climate Adaptation Plan and updated it in 2015.
• Incorporated climate risk and vulnerability to heat events within the Hazard Mitigation Plan. (Note: New York State (NYS) Requirement §F6 requires plans developed with State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) administered funds to include climate change hazard information and strategies to address them).

• EPA's Excessive Heat Events Guidebook provides information on how to reduce the heat island effect.

Educate residents on the threats from extreme heat and provides preparedness resources

• New York created multiple resources including handouts, guides, and even an emergency preparedness mobile app to help residents prepare for extreme heat events

• Green Infrastructure Wizard Tool provides access to tools and resources that can support and promote water management and community planning decisions.

Re-assessing vulnerability under the best available science

• The city recently updated the vulnerability assessment, which for the first time projects climate risk out to 2100, in the 2015 report “Building the Knowledge Base for Climate Resiliency.”

• The Center for Disease Control's Assessing Health Vulnerability to Climate Change guides health departments on conducting climate and health vulnerability assessments.