At the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, we are examining the ways that the increasing incidence of extreme heat affects the economy and community resilience. We’re paying particular attention to this issue given the number of highly impacted places in the Federal Reserve’s 12th District, which includes the City of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona.
The Community Development team fielded a survey targeting professionals in the western United States from a broad range of sectors whose work on community development‒related issues impacts the personal and economic well-being of low-income communities and communities of color. Over 250 respondents shared their perceptions of how climate-related risks may be affecting the communities they serve and their organizations’ work. This research brief offers an analysis of the survey responses.