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Phoenix — the hottest big city in the U.S. — hires first-ever heat mitigation officer

David Hondula is the first-ever heat mitigation officer for the city of Phoenix.  (Peter O'Dowd/Here & Now)
David Hondula is the first-ever heat mitigation officer for the city of Phoenix. (Peter O'Dowd/Here & Now)

With summer temperatures soaring, can Phoenix turn down the heat? The hottest big city in America has just hired its first-ever heat mitigation officer.

David Hondula will be charged with lowering urban temperatures to avoid heat-related deaths, which have soared to new records in recent years.

Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd speaks with Hondula in a South Phoenix neighborhood where residents are more likely to die of heat-related illness.

This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a project aimed at strengthening the media’s focus on the climate crisis. WBUR is one of 400+ news organizations that have committed to a week of heightened coverage around the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. Check out all our coverage here.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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