Los Angeles County Adopts Heat Action Plan to Address Rising Temperatures

Trees at Jackson Elementary School campus in Altadena, 2021 (File Photo – Wesley Reutimann)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved a motion to adopt and implement the County’s Heat Action Plan, a comprehensive blueprint outlining the County’s response to rising temperatures and extreme heat events.

By News Desk

The motion was authored by Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and coauthored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath.

Extreme heat is among the most significant weather-related hazards in Los Angeles County, contributing to more than 200 deaths annually. The increasing frequency of extreme-heat days—driven by ongoing climate change—has intensified health risks, economic burdens, and strain on infrastructure, particularly in historically underserved communities.

“The County’s Heat Action Plan is not just a blueprint—it’s a commitment to support Angelenos as we navigate a rising trend in extreme heat events,” Solis said. “Now more than ever, the actions we take today to protect our residents will ensure we create cooler and healthier neighborhoods in the future, while advancing heat resilience.”

In response to these challenges, the County’s Chief Sustainability Office developed the Heat Action Plan to help neighborhoods, infrastructure, and ecosystems stay cool. The plan focuses on cooling outdoor spaces, creating heat-resilient indoor environments, and expanding public education on heat safety.

“The County Heat Action Plan is a call to action,” said Rita Kampalath, the County’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “Its success depends on County departments, unincorporated communities, cities, and regional and community stakeholders working together to advance heat resilience. I invite all of our partners to use the County Heat Action Plan as a shared blueprint for building a cooler, healthier, and more equitable Los Angeles County.”

Supervisor Horvath emphasized the plan’s focus on protecting vulnerable populations. “The County Heat Action Plan will protect residents—especially renters and families in hotter areas like the San Fernando Valley—who are already bearing the brunt of rising temperatures, limited shade, and inadequate home cooling,” Horvath said. “This plan builds on our first-in-the-nation tenant protections from extreme heat and prioritizes the physical and social infrastructure necessary to adapt to our changing climate.”

The approved motion advances the adoption and implementation of the Heat Action Plan, providing guidance on heat-related actions and resources for County departments and the County’s 88 cities, while also serving as a model for local action. The motion further directs the Chief Sustainability Office to align the County’s local, state, and federal legislative agenda with the plan’s priorities, including support for funding and policies that protect vulnerable communities from extreme heat.