It’s Too Damn Hot… So What Can We Do?

We all complain about the heat, yet it's a climate threat we routinely underestimate. In the U.S., extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, fires and hurricanes combined. About 16,000 excess deaths were recorded during Europe's June heatwave – a striking and tragic number. What does extreme heat do to our bodies, our wallets and our cities, and what can we actually do about it? 

From creating insurance programs that pay out before the disaster to protecting workers who labor in the heat, many people are working on solutions. Cities are finding ways to prepare for temperatures they historically have never experienced. Plus, we hear about one woman’s “Grammy Ride” for the climate: a 3,000 mile bike journey raising climate awareness and funds for climate action. 

Guests: 

Donna Minter, Former forensic and neuropsychologist

Kathy Baughman McLeod, Founder and CEO of HERA

Juanita Constible, Senior Advocate, NRDC

00:00 - Introduction 

03:14 - Donna Minter on coming up with the idea for the “Grammy Ride” 

05:21 - Donna Minter on how friends and family reacted

11:54 - Donna Minter on reflecting on her faith

15:15 - Donna Minter on her Texas stay   

21:50 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on what extreme heat does to the body