About this episode

The episode discusses the dangers of extreme heat as a climate hazard and the need for better adaptation strategies.

In episode 257 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Ladd Keith , associate professor of planning at the University of Arizona and one of the world's leading experts on extreme heat adaptation. As Europe endures another deadly heat wave, Doug and Ladd explore why heat remains the deadliest—and one of the most overlooked—climate hazards. They discuss Arizona's progress in reducing heat-related deaths, lessons from Europe and India, the growing challenges facing rural communities, and how cuts to federal funding threaten adaptation efforts just as they are beginning to scale. The conversation also examines why communities must stop planning for today's climate and prepare for a hotter future, how urban planning can address multiple climate risks at once, and why building public awareness is essential if climate adaptation is going to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. Transcript of this episode . Links in this episode: https://www.laddkeith.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laddkeith/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/laddkeith.com U of A Heat Resilience Initiative https://heat.arizona.edu Center for Heat Resilient Communities publication - Building…

People in this episode

Host: Doug Parsons

Guest: Dr. Ladd Keith

Topics covered

• extreme heat
• climate adaptation
• urban planning
• public awareness
• heat-related deaths
• rural communities

Keywords

• extreme heat
• climate change
• adaptation
• urban planning
• public awareness
• heat resilience
• rural challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Arizona, U of A Heat Resilience Initiative, Center for Heat Resilient Communities, America Adapts

Places: Europe, India, Arizona

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• The FOMO Problem: Why Climate Adaptation Still Isn't Scaling with Shalini Vajjhala · May 19, 2026 · 52 min
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