极端高温正在全球多地造成严重死亡威胁。法国在6月下旬创纪录热浪中报告死亡人数增加超过2,000人[1]，英格兰和威尔士自5月以来估计有超过2,700人死于热相关原因[1]，美国在7月4日假期周末报告至少44起热相关死亡[1]。
美国亚利桑那州凤凰城通过一系列主动措施，在应对极端高温引发的死亡方面积累了可借鉴的经验。凤凰城所在的马里科帕县曾在2023年创下热相关死亡人数645人的峰值，但随后降至2025年的405人[1]。截至7月11日，该县已记录23起热相关死亡，另有282起正在调查中[1]。
为了遏制高温死亡，凤凰城于2021年成为全球首个雇佣专职"高温官员"的城市[1]。除此之外，该市还采取了开放冷却中心和提供空调维修等措施来保护居民。
专家警告，自工业革命以来全球气温已上升超过1.1摄氏度[1]，受气候变化影响，极端高温将成为常态。其他城市需借鉴凤凰城的经验并提前规划未来五至十年的高温应对方案。
Extreme heat is claiming lives at unprecedented rates across multiple continents, with France reporting more than 2,000 additional deaths during a record-breaking heat wave in late June [1], while England and Wales have recorded an estimated 2,700 heat-related deaths since May [1]. The United States experienced at least 44 heat-related deaths during the Fourth of July weekend [1].
Phoenix, Arizona, has emerged as a potential model for combating this growing crisis. The city became the first in the world to employ a dedicated heat officer in 2021 [1], a position created specifically to coordinate urban responses to extreme temperatures. Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, has implemented a comprehensive strategy that includes establishing cooling centers and providing air conditioning repair services [1].
The effectiveness of these measures is evident in mortality trends. Maricopa County recorded a peak of 645 heat-related deaths in 2023, declining to 405 by 2025 [1]. As of July 11, the county had documented 23 confirmed heat-related deaths, with 282 additional cases still under investigation [1].
Climate experts warn that such extreme temperatures will become increasingly common. Global temperatures have risen more than 1.1 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution [1]. Scientists emphasize that other cities must adopt similar preventive strategies and begin planning heat mitigation efforts for the next five to ten years [1] to prevent the escalating death tolls seen globally.