Climate and Heat Vulnerability Roundtable

Brief Summary:
 The Roundtable willl provide a brief description of focus and products of each of the following:

• CDC Climate and Health Program (BRACE Framework) work related to heat vulnerability
• Tools developed to conduct heat vulnerability assessments
• EPHT work on surveillance and development of appropriate indicators for heat-related health outcomes
• Existing and potential data sources for heat-related research

  Discussion Prompts:

1. What indicators are being used or evaluated at a state or city level to study heat-related health outcomes? 
2. What state level research is being conducted to explore the relationships between extreme  temperatures, heat indices, at-risk populations, and public outreach/education?
3. Are there topic areas or data needs that aren’t being addressed by these networks related to extreme heat events?
4. What challenges do CSTE members face in their states in identifying, monitoring, and evaluating the human health impacts of extreme heat events?

This roundtable will focus on the research projects related to extreme heat events and the potential impacts on human health. Discussions will include a review of ongoing projects, identification of effective methods and strategies for analysis, sources of appropriate data and indicators, developing collaborative partnerships, and opportunities for translation of successful projects into best practice guidance. Key players at the state and local level include the CDC Climate and Health Programs and the EPHT Network.  While an overview of these initiatives is important, the hosts anticipate that the most dynamic part of this roundtable will be the discussion of gaps and needs for climate and extreme weather event planning, research, and tracking regarding heat-related impacts and the reduction of negative human health outcomes.