Beyond Temperature Brief

Extreme heat is not just a weather problem; it is a socially produced condition resulting from policy choices, structural inequality, and cultural narratives. Our new report, “Beyond Temperature: A cultural context approach to heat and health”, shows how heat-related illness is exacerbated by the intersection of environmental stress, biological vulnerability, and unequal power relations. The work challenges the limits of standard heat metrics and calls for a fundamental shift: from individual advice (stay cool, drink water) to collective, culturally grounded, and systematic solutions. We must address the “Politics of Shade,” dem and enforceable workplace heat standards, and invest in shade infrastructure to achieve genuine thermal justice.

We want to encourage policymakers to look beyond the thermometer and adopt a syndemic framework that addresses the root causes of heat vulnerability. This requires bridging divides between public health, labor, and urban planning, and challenging dominant cultural narratives around comfort and risk.

Learn how decision makers are making strides to improve community resilience by treating cultural knowledge as infrastructure, investing in shade-focused design, passive cooling technologies, and flexible, culturally-attuned work rhythms to build more effective, just, and sustainable heat health strategies.

Download the full report “Beyond Temperature: A cultural context approach to heat and health” or read the one-page summary here:

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