On August 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the 10 winners of the Let’s Talk About Heat Challenge.

The winner in Pennsylvania was the Trust for Public Land in Philadelphia for their “Heat Response: Creative Action for Philly’s Rising Temperatures (HR)” initiative focused on community engagement through public art with local artists, residents, and city agencies to combat environmental racism and historic inequity.  Read more here.

Winners will receive prizes of $12,000 each for their innovative strategies and messages to raise awareness of extreme heat risks and protect public health, especially in underserved communities.

The Let’s Talk About Heat Challenge was developed in support of the National Climate Task Force's Extreme Heat Interagency Working Group, which is being led by EPA, NOAA, and HHS with support from the White House.

“This summer, unprecedented heat is having devastating impacts on people across this country and around the world. As we work to make our communities more resilient and combat climate change, we must also make sure people have the information they need to stay safe during intense heat waves. I congratulate our challenge winners for helping to protect their neighbors and our most vulnerable community members by raising awareness of heat risks,” said Vicki Arroyo, EPA Associate Administrator for Policy and senior representative on the National Climate Task Force's Extreme Heat Interagency Working Group.

Extreme heat can affect everyone, but it can be much worse for those with chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Heat also has a bigger impact on children and older people – as well as people who spend more time outdoors or lack air conditioning.

Additionally, extreme heat can disproportionately impact people of color and people with lower incomes who often live in neighborhoods with fewer trees and less greenery, which makes these areas hotter than wealthier areas of the same city.

The Let’s Talk About Heat Challenge winners are raising awareness of extreme heat risks for more vulnerable groups and individuals and offering tips on how people can protect themselves from extreme heat.

EPA and challenge co-sponsors will work with challenge winners over the coming months to share the winning heat safety messages with communities across the country and help build capacity for communities to communicate the risks of extreme heat.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Winners Sharing Webinar

EPA and partners will host a webinar featuring representatives from these 10 winning organizations on Thursday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Register here for the webinar to learn more about the winning messages and how partners worked together to reach target audiences. 

In addition to EPA, challenge co-sponsors include NOAA, HHS, FEMA, and external partner organizations, including the Atlantic Council, Georgetown Climate Center, Groundwork USA, and National Association of County and City Health Officials.

Visit EPA’s Let’s Talk About Heat Challenge webpage to learn more about the challenge winners and view honorable mentions that target important audiences for heat risk messaging including families in public housing, older adults, pregnant people and athletes.

NewsClips:

-- Inquirer: Philly Schools Won’t Be Fully Air Conditioned Until 2027

-- Inquirer: Summer 2022 In Philly Is About To Set More High Temperature Records

-- WHYY: 100 Philly Schools Will Close Early Tuesday, Wednesday Due To High Heat

-- The Guardian: Brutal Heatwave Scorches U.S. West, Sparking Wildfires, Health Warnings

-- WPost: Cost Of Climate Change Impacts Far Surpass Government Estimates, Study Says

Related Article:

-- Gov. Wolf: 2021 Climate Impacts Report Projects Pennsylvania Will Be 5.9° F Warmer by Midcentury, Precipitation To Increase, Targets Areas to Reduce Risk

NewsClips - Climate Change:

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Will Miss September RGGI Greenhouse Gas Credit Auction As PA Court Battle Continues

-- Argus Media: PA Supreme Court Maintains Stay On Implementing RGGI Greenhouse Gas Emissions Limits On Power Plants

-- NextPittsburgh: The New Allegheny County Sustainability Report Is Out, How Did Our Region Do?

Related Articles - Energy:

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh: Sept. 23 Innovative CEOs Enabling And Expanding Decarbonization; Part Of Global Clean Energy Action Forum  [PaEN]

-- Erie 2030 District Achieves 22.4% Decline In Energy Use; $4.6 Million In Energy Savings; 14.6% Decline In Carbon Emissions  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Homebuilding Startup - Module - Selected As One Of 6 New Ventures For The Housing Lab, Prioritizing Housing Equity, Sustainability  [PaEN]

-- New Allegheny County Sustainability Report Provides Overview Of Efforts Since 2009  [PaEN]

-- DEP Still Accepting Applications For Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebates [PaEN]

[Posted: August 31, 2022]

9/5/2022