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Climate Action

THUR-A04: Take Action or Suffer: Bridging Heat Research, Policy, and Design

Thursday, September 17, 2026
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM PT
1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Rising heat levels demand action at every scale. This session connects university research, municipal tools, and practice-based landscape architecture strategies to inform policy and drive measurable cooling outcomes. Attendees leave with knowledge of the impacts of extreme heat and how to implement cooler outcomes through policy, details, and built work.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Evaluate heat mitigation performance using measurable metrics such as tree canopy and shade coverage, thermal comfort indicators, surface and air temperatures, and walkability targets to guide site design decisions.
  • Apply research-based, low-water planting and soil strategies that improve microclimate performance, survivability, and maintenance outcomes while supporting long-term cooling benefits in arid and semi-arid urban environments.
  • Translate municipal climate action tools, policies, and standards into project deliverables, including zoning and streetscape requirements, shade plans, planting specifications, and implementation phasing aligned with public health and equity priorities.
  • Implement a repeatable workflow to move from heat risk mapping and community priorities to design details, documentation, and post-occupancy evaluation that demonstrate measurable cooling outcomes across public and private projects.