Since the early 2020s, local governments around the world have been appointing chief heat officers (CHOs) in response to the increasing cases of heat waves. A CHO’s role is to specifically address the dangers of extreme heat in urban areas. Many cities are particularly at risk due to the urban heat island effect, which is a phenomenon where cities are noticeably hotter than surrounding rural areas. This effect is caused by a lack of green spaces and the heavy use of heat-absorbing materials such as concrete and asphalt. The CHO is tasked with carrying out policies that reduce extreme heat and providing resources to protect people from the risks of heat exposure.
