A new report gives city planners a set of principles and guidelines to equitably address extreme heat in their communities.

As extreme heat becomes more persistent and prevalent, and as the United States braces for a new season of heat waves, Ladd Keith, an assistant professor in the University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, says city planners can and should lead their communities in managing and mitigating extreme heat.

Keith and Arizona State University researcher Sara Meerow wrote the report, published by the American Planning Association. “Planning for Urban Heat Resilience” reflects Keith and Meerow’s research on heat and climate planning, and is available to download for free.

Here, Keith talks about the causes of extreme heat, how heat affects more than just public safety, and what those of us who aren’t city planners can do to help manage and mitigate this growing threat: