California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author: Sandie Ha

Contractor: University of California, Merced

Sub-contractor: Standford University

Contract Number: 24RD003

Project Status: Active

Relevant CARB Programs:  AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan

Topic Areas: Environmental Justice, People at Risk, Exposure Impacts, Exposure Mitigation, Health Analysis, Health & Air Pollution, Community Health, Reducing Disparities, Racial Equity, Health Risk Assessment

Research Summary:

Extreme heat is a serious consequence of climate change, and its impacts vary across California’s regions and communities. While several state agencies fund local efforts to help communities adapt to extreme heat, there is still limited information on how these programs protect public health. To support CARB’s climate efforts, a new study is needed to better understand how local heat adaptation strategies affect health, especially in communities that are more vulnerable to climate impacts like extreme heat and already face greater health challenges. The University of California, Merced has assembled a team of researchers and long-standing community partners to conduct this study. The focus will be on Kern County, a region facing elevated climate risks and high social vulnerability. This community-centered project will evaluate the health benefits of a heat adaptation strategy implemented in the community and selected by the Community Advisory Board. The main goal is to understand how this strategy impacts the health of those most at risk, including low-income residents, older adults, and people from racial and ethnic minority groups. CARB expects this study to improve our understanding of how local adaptation efforts can reduce heat-related health risks and disparities. It will also highlight the health benefits and economic impacts of the strategy and incorporate meaningful input from the local community. The results will help CARB shape future climate programs and improve how we protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat.

Keywords: climate change, extreme heat, heat adaptation strategies, health benefits, social vulnerability, community-centered, disparities