LA County Creating Action Plan to Tackle Extreme Heat

As climate change accelerates, Los Angeles County is facing more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting heat waves. Average maximum temperatures in the region are expected to rise by up to eight degrees by the end of the century, with disproportionate impacts on low-income neighborhoods that have less tree canopy and more pavement. The County's Chief Sustainability Office is responding with the County Heat Action Plan (CHAP), a comprehensive policy roadmap to help residents, businesses, and ecosystems adapt to extreme heat. The plan emphasizes equity, highlighting the need to protect communities historically left vulnerable due to redlining and underinvestment.

The CHAP outlines three primary goals: cooling and protecting outdoor spaces, making buildings more heat-resilient, and strengthening emergency preparedness and communication. Specific measures include expanding urban greening, updating building design for passive cooling, increasing access to efficient HVAC systems, and developing mobile cooling strategies for outdoor workers and unhoused residents. The plan also seeks to minimize energy demand while increasing resilience by supporting solar and storage systems, promoting reflective roofing, and leveraging passive design. Environmental co-benefits — such as biodiversity, pollinator support, and improved stormwater management—are central to the plan, which will complement ongoing initiatives like the Community Forest Management Plan.

Local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations are key to implementing the CHAP. To support them, the County has launched a Public Engagement Toolkit that includes resources for collaborative planning, grant identification, and stakeholder outreach. The draft plan will be released for public comment in fall 2025, with the final version expected by year’s end. However, many actions are already in motion. Ultimately, CHAP aims to foster not only climate resilience but community dignity — ensuring that everyone, regardless of income or zip code, has the ability to stay safe and healthy during extreme heat.