FACT SHEET: President Biden to Announce New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat | The White House

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Extreme Heat in the United States

Introduction

Millions of Americans are currently experiencing the effects of extreme heat, which is growing in intensity, frequency, and duration due to the climate crisis.

Meeting with Mayors and New Measures

Today, President Biden will convene Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Arizona, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg of San Antonio, Texas, to hear from them directly about how their communities are being impacted by extreme heat and to discuss the steps the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to protect communities like theirs. The President will also announce new measures to protect workers and communities across the country from the impacts of extreme heat.

Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat

• President Biden has asked the Department of Labor (DOL) to issue a Hazard Alert, and DOL will also ramp up enforcement to protect workers from extreme heat.

For years, heat has been the number one cause of weather-related deaths in America – with more than 600 heat-related deaths every year. And workers, including farmworkers, farmers, firefighters, and construction workers, are disproportionately impacted. Since 2011, more than 400 workers have died due to environmental heat exposure, and thousands more are hospitalized every year. The Hazard Alert will reaffirm that workers have heat-related protections under federal law. As part of the alert, the Department of Labor will provide information on what employers can and should be doing now to protect their workers, help ensure employees are aware of their rights, including protections against retaliation, and highlight the steps the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently taking to protect workers. Additionally, the Department of Labor will ramp up enforcement of heat-safety violations, increasing inspections in high-risk industries like construction and agriculture, while OSHA continues to develop a national standard for workplace heat-safety rules.

Improving Weather Forecasts

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is investing up to $7 million from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to improve the nation’s weather forecasts.

In partnership with universities and other institutions, NOAA will establish a new Data Assimilation Consortium focused on developing better weather-prediction capabilities and maximizing the value provided by NOAA’s global observing system. These improved forecasts will allow communities to better prepare for extreme weather events, including long periods of extreme heat. As the climate crisis contributes to worsening extreme weather events affecting Americans nationwide, this investment will give Americans the information and tools they need to stay safe.

Enhancing Climate Resilience

• The Department of the Interior is investing $152 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand water storage and enhance climate resilience in California, Colorado, and Washington.

This investment will help increase water storage capacity and lay conveyance pipeline to deliver reliable and safe drinking water and build resiliency for communities most impacted by drought. In the wake of severe drought conditions throughout the West, the Administration is making coordinated investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to modernize essential water infrastructure, invest in new water recycling and desalination projects and expand access to clean drinking water for communities that have long-dealt with contaminated water supplies.

Previous Actions and Climate Agenda

Today’s announcements build on numerous actions that the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to bolster heat response and resilience nationwide, including providing billions of dollars through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to communities to make buildings more energy efficient and to open cooling centers to keep residents safe.

Since day one, President Biden has taken historic action to address the climate crisis, which includes securing more than $50 billion through his Investing in America agenda to help Americans in every single state become more resilient to climate impacts like heat waves. The Biden-Harris Administration has continued to deliver on the most ambitious climate agenda in American history—an agenda that is lowering energy costs for hardworking families, bolstering America’s energy security, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, and strengthening community-driven climate resilience across the country.

Conclusion

Meanwhile, many Republicans in Congress continue to deny the very existence of climate change, peddle conspiracy theories, and remain committed to repealing the President’s Inflation Reduction Act – the biggest climate protection bill ever – which would undermine the health and safety of their own constituents.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article discusses the impacts of extreme heat on workers and communities, highlighting the need for measures to protect their health and safety.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The article mentions investments in water storage and infrastructure to enhance climate resilience and provide reliable and safe drinking water.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article refers to actions taken to bolster heat response and resilience in communities, including making buildings more energy efficient and opening cooling centers.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article emphasizes the climate crisis as a driver of extreme heat events and discusses investments and actions taken to address its impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination – The article highlights the need to protect workers from extreme heat-related illnesses and deaths.
• SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity – The article mentions investments to expand water storage capacity and enhance climate resilience in drought-impacted communities.
• SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations – The article discusses actions taken to bolster heat response and resilience in communities, aiming to protect residents from extreme heat events.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries – The article mentions investments and actions taken to enhance climate resilience and address the impacts of extreme heat events fueled by the climate crisis.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of heat-related deaths and illnesses among workers – This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 3.9, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous conditions.
• Water storage capacity and conveyance pipeline expansion – This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 6.4, which focuses on increasing water-use efficiency and ensuring sustainable freshwater supply.
• Number of deaths, people affected, and economic losses caused by extreme heat events – This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 11.5, which aims to reduce the impacts of disasters, including water-related disasters.
• Climate resilience measures implemented and effectiveness in protecting communities – This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 13.1, which emphasizes strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: whitehouse.gov

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