Community climate resilience is forged when local communities have the resources and tools they need to adapt and respond to climate impacts. However, climate impacts are experienced differently across communities, influenced by factors such as people’s built environment, work conditions, and health status. This is particularly true for extreme heat, which in recent years has become the leading weather-related cause of death. Because of the variation in climate experiences, effective solutions may often emerge from community-government partnerships that are grounded in people’s lived experience, including the impact of heat and strategies for adaptation. 

 

This project examines the capacity and potential of local governments to co-produce heat strategies with community partners. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study includes an exploratory sequential design to identify key challenges, strategies, and skills important for fostering community-government partnerships. It also investigates the potential impact of community involvement on strategies for heat preparedness, focusing on the development of heat-health information. The results of this study will speak to broader themes in public management, adding insight on how local governments are equipped for a ‘whole community approach’ that involves partners within and outside of the public sector.