Extreme heat adaptation planning: a review of evaluation, monitoring, and reporting

Extreme heat events are increasing in intensity and duration. Although heat adaptation planning is increasing across the US, the effectiveness of adaptation strategies across contexts remains unknown. Evaluation helps heat adaptation planners understand the impact of investments and increase accountability. To understand how evaluation is or is not happening in extreme heat planning, we purposively sampled and analyzed 65 plans that would likely include extreme heat adaptation strategies. We found that although 55% (n = 36) of plans included heat evaluation or monitoring plans in some form, fewer than 30% (n = 19) were associated with subsequent reports. Of these, only 6 were implemented as planned, and none were implemented at the regional or neighborhood level. We also found that monitoring indicators did not match the heat impacts, vulnerabilities, and needs identified in the plan. We provide evaluation recommendations to guide and support evaluation and monitoring efforts in the heat planning process.