Keeping Communities Cool: Practical Solutions for Planners

Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the interactive nature of learning labs, only those with a seat may participate. Please arrive early to secure your spot!

The year 2024 was the hottest on record, with temperatures averaging 2.3°F above historical norms. Across the United States, communities are facing longer, more intense heat waves that are intensified by the built environment. Cities are particularly vulnerable due to heat-trapping impervious surfaces and limited shade or vegetation, making extreme heat one of the most pressing challenges for planners.

This Learning Lab explores how planning practice is evolving to confront this crisis, drawing on neighborhood-level case studies including Detroit's Resilience Hubs, the Swim Philly initiative, the Resilience 4 Communities program, and Boston's Heat Resilience Solutions framework. These examples demonstrate how local governments, community organizations, businesses, and residents can work together to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience.

Detroit's Resilience Hubs - trusted community facilities that provide cooling, resources, and emergency support, often powered by renewable energy - offer a powerful example of centering residents while reinforcing infrastructure against extreme heat.

Identify the challenges your community faces through live polling and rapid storytelling, then collaborate in small groups to map barriers, stakeholders, and solutions. Panelists respond by connecting themes to recently implemented strategies that integrate climate science, equity, and targeted interventions into planning practice.
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