Home / Environment / MA Appoints First Heat Resilience Officer
MA Appoints First Heat Resilience Officer
15 Aug
Summary
- Massachusetts appointed its first heat resilience officer.
- The role aims to protect residents from extreme heat effects.
- The position is funded for two years by the Boston Foundation.
State officials convened at Clark University in Worcester on Thursday, August 13, to announce the appointment of Massachusetts' inaugural heat resilience officer. This critical new position is tasked with enhancing the state's capacity to safeguard its residents from the escalating effects of climate change and prepare for future extreme heat occurrences.
Katie Schlick, who has prior experience in the Biden White House and with climate resilience policy, will lead these efforts. Her role is fully funded for a minimum of two years by the Boston Foundation. Schlick will orchestrate a unified statewide approach by merging public health data, climate science, and community insights to shield individuals from the perils of extreme heat.
The announcement followed a roundtable discussion involving Schlick, state agency representatives, community groups, and Clark University faculty and students. Clark's commitment to climate science, including its Human-Environment Regional Observatory (HERO) program and new School of Climate, Environment and Society, made it a fitting venue. The university's students have previously contributed to local climate resilience initiatives, such as mitigating the impact of tree loss in Worcester.
