As of 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that frequency, duration, season length, and intensity of heat waves are all increasing every decade, with steep increases in the 2010s and 2020s. Heat waves are becoming more prominent and impactful each year. There is a misconception that heat waves are simply natural variations in temperature. While it is not unusual to have hot temperatures every once in a while, these hot temperatures are increasing in length, frequency, and intensity, often leading to high nighttime temperatures. All of these factors lead to humans not being able to cool off effectively, leading to illnesses and death.
Extreme changes in temperature are a result of industrialization, which involves deforestation and construction. This results in the phenomenon called the Urban Heat Island effect. Industrialization has led to massive increase in greenhouse gases and air pollutants like CO2, CO, CH4, O3, NOx, SOx, PM, and VOCs. Greenhouse gas chemicals trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping Earth. Communities that are impacted most by extreme heat tend to also be the communities left out of important decision-making processes made by companies. These vulnerable communities tend to be low-income communities, as well as people of color.
To ensure that the voices of those impacted are heard and actually implemented, advocating for equitable adaptation through regulation is the first step to being resilient against the extreme impacts of heat waves. Having regulations keeps corporations' emissions accountable by placing limits. Additional policies must be enacted to support vulnerable communities against extreme heat by having more green infrastructure, heat preparedness plans, cooling centers, and green energy.