As we've hit peak change within the climate, the globe is going through heat waves and cold snaps that are taking their toll on society, the environment, and our planet as a whole. Since the industrial age, the earth has gone through a 1.1 °C warming, which is a damaging increase. Two great examples of areas that aren't prepared, no matter the weather, are Puerto Rico and Alaska.
Alaska is typically known for its colder temperatures, but this year, they have switched over to heat advisories, making it the first-ever heat advisory warning to be enacted in our coldest state. Heat waves in Alaska bring infrastructure problems. Many of the houses are created with the intent to trap heat, and they lack AC, which makes the houses unbearable.
In the Caribbean, Puerto Rico faces increasing frequency and duration of high temperatures. As the heat waves come through, much of the power grid can't tolerate the strain that gets put on it. This causes power outages, and many of the systems can't be repaired that fast, leaving people without power for long periods of time.
Vulnerable populations include the elderly, children, the homeless, low-income, people who need life-saving devices, and people who spend their days working outside. Short-term solutions include providing cooling shelters with AC, taking breaks in the shade, and staying hydrated. Long-term solutions include planting more vegetation, creating green roofs, and using pavement that does not absorb as much heat.