Advances Collaborative Solutions to Protect Public Health and Support Disadvantaged Communities
New York State today announced new and continued investments to address extreme heat, prioritizing disadvantaged communities on the frontlines of heat exposure, new funding opportunities to create public cooling spaces, and expanded assistance to provide affordable cooling for New Yorkers at home. The efforts mark progress on New York State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan, directed by Governor Kathy Hochul and first announced in June 2024 to address extreme heat impacts and prioritize State investments.
With heat waves and other extreme heat events more common, New York State agencies are continuing to work towards implementing the recommended initiatives found in the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP), which are designed to help New Yorkers prepare for the negative health and environmental impacts from extreme heat events. A variety of resources are available for individuals, local governments, and community-based organizations, including:
- Creating green and cool public spaces – State investments are transforming public spaces to reduce urban heat while serving as places for communities to gather and connect. New funding is available to support green, cool and comfortable spaces, including schools, playgrounds, and public pools, that serve the youngest members of our communities. Investments are creating new spaces and enhance existing ones, including prioritizing disadvantaged communities (DACs) to help expand equitable access to outdoor cooling spaces.
- Expanding access to public cooling – In the 2026 State of the State address, Governor Hochul announced a new grant program to fund Community Resilience Hubs and secured $10 million in the FY 2027 budget. New State Department of Health (DOH) cooling center guidance provides best practices for establishing cooling centers and supports consistent services at those sites. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grants program provided $2 million in funds for new cooling centers and heat emergency plans in 2025 alone, with opportunities for new funding available now.
- Supporting access to cooling at home – In 2025, DOH launched the new Essential Plan Cooling Program. In 2026, the program is expanding eligibility to offer free air conditioners to more members of the Essential Plan, now covering 16 qualifying conditions. Expanded eligibility will help provide in-home cooling to more people with health conditions that may be exacerbated by heat. This will complement assistance available in 2026 through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling program. In addition, the Public Service Commission announced uniform extreme heat utility protections for customers to prevent utility shutoffs during extreme heat events.
- Protecting workers – In 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) launched extreme weather guidance, including extreme heat guidance, to keep workers safe. In 2025, DOL developed additional resources, including a new bilingual wallet card and templates for Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Plans (also in Spanish). Site visits and vulnerable worker outreach in collaboration with local partners were also expanded. Governor Hochul also recently announced the extreme heat NYSIF equipment credit for small businesses.
In the second year of implementing the EHAP, which is led by DEC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State investments helped create green spaces to keep communities and neighborhoods cool, support access to swimming and play areas, and build community resilience by supporting resilience hubs, community cooling centers, and cooling options at people’s homes.
Resources support planning for and adapting to extreme heat across the state, including updates to the Heat Vulnerability Index and new Urban Heat Island (UHI) planning tools, expected to be released later this summer. In addition, new funding opportunities improve public access to cool spaces in public schools through the Clean, Green Schools Initiative, create public cooling spaces through NY SWIMS and NY PLAYS, and resources support assistance to cooling at home through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Essential Plan Cooling Program.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “More frequent extreme heat and severe weather are contributing to serious public health consequences and threats to New Yorkers, particularly among communities of color and those historically overburdened by pollution. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership and in partnership with other State agencies, DEC continues to make progress enhancing public health, protecting lives, and increasing resilience as we face the impacts of our changing climate.”
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Governor Hochul’s commitment to safeguarding the health of New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable populations, against the effects of extreme heat has resulted in a comprehensive strategy that leverages the expertise of many agencies. NYSERDA is proud to be a partner in helping our communities and employers offer new resources for residents and workers to prepare for and avoid being impacted by the health and environmental impacts that can come with our hottest days.”
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O’Leary said, “Extreme heat is the number one weather related cause of death in the United States, and it is critical that New Yorkers are aware of the risks and prepare for its impacts. Thanks to Governor Hochul's investments and forward-thinking leadership, our state agencies are working together to plan for and mitigate the impact of extreme heat, while making resources available for communities and residents across the state. On Heat Action Day, I urge everyone to prepare and stay safe: monitor your local forecast, stay hydrated, have a plan in the event of unexpected power outages, and stay informed by signing up for real time emergency and weather alerts."
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her unwavering commitment to protecting the health and safety of all New Yorkers, as extreme heat can be life threatening especially for those with chronic conditions like asthma. As dangerously high temperatures continue to be the norm, we are proud to work with our State agency partners on the Extreme Heat Action Plan to provide affordable cooling options to protect vulnerable populations and workers.”
Implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan
To effectively adapt to extreme heat, DEC, DOH, and DHSES announced today new and updated tools to help communities understand where, when, and how heat is impacting them. The suite of tools will help communities plan for and adapt to extreme heat:
- DOH Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard – DOH’s Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard allows users to see their county’s heat-health risk forecast and track heat-related health outcomes on the local and statewide level.
- DEC’s Urban Heat Island Maps – DEC’s Urban Heat Island maps provide exposure data statewide at a 30-meter resolution and help communities identify and address heat islands.
- DOH Heat Vulnerability Index – DOH is making updates to the State’s Heat Vulnerability Index, helping communities identify areas with particularly vulnerable population groups.
- NYS DAC Assessment Tool – DEC created a new tool to help communities understand potential environmental burdens in disadvantaged communities (DACs).
- DHSES MitigateNY – The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ (DHSES) MitigateNYis New York State’s central hub for hazard mitigation planning, offering data, tools and guidance.
- NYS Climate Impacts Assessment – The New York State Climate Impacts Assessment provides climate projections for New York State and information on impacts of climate change.
New York State also marks continued significant progress on the second year of implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP) with the 2025-2026 readiness update now available. In June 2024, Governor Hochul, DEC, NYSERDA, and the EHAP Work Group released the plan with nearly 50 actions by State agencies to address extreme heat impacts across four tracks (local planning and capacity building, community preparedness and workers’ safety, resilient buildings and access to cooling, and advancing ecosystem-based adaptations).
DEC is coordinating the implementation of the plan in partnership with NYSERDA and the members of the Work Group, including DOH and DHSES. During the first year implementing the plan, State agencies made significant progress in developing new resources that help communities address impacts of extreme heat.
Staying Safe During Extreme Heat
The dangers of extreme heat can affect everyone, regardless of age, physical shape, or existing health conditions. The body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature during extreme heat and, without taking proper measures, this can lead to heat-related illness or even death.
Information about what the public can do during hot weather and how to locate cooling centers can be found on DOH’s Extreme Heat website.
HEAP can also provide an air conditioning unit to income-eligible households that include someone with a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat, or households with young children or older adults. Applications will continue to be accepted until funding runs out. For more information, visit the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website.
Groups most at risk are:
- People who work outdoors or indoors without air conditioning
- Adults aged 60 years and older
- Infants, children, and those who are pregnant
- People with chronic health conditions
- Those with physical and cognitive disabilities
- Those with no access to air conditioning
- Individuals who live alone or are unhoused
- Athletes
- Pets and service animals
- People living in cities because asphalt and concrete store heat longer and release heat more slowly at night. This produces higher nighttime temperatures and is known as the "urban heat island effect.”
Another important heat safety tip is to never leave children or pets unsupervised in hot cars. There is a real and severe danger when leaving children or pets unsupervised in a car even when temperatures don’t “feel” hot. At 60 degrees outside, after just one hour a closed car can get as hot as 105 degrees.
New Yorkers should closely monitor their local forecasts and look for updates issued by the National Weather Service. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website.
New Yorkers should also ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. They should also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111.
Supporting Local Extreme Heat Action
New York State continues to make investments in programs to help mitigate extreme heat and other climate impacts. Currently, $18 million is available through the Climate Smart Communities Grant program to fund climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including for projects that help communities plan for and adapt to extreme heat. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2026. More information is available on DEC’s website.
A total of $7 million was awarded through the Climate Smart Communities Grant program last year for heat-adaptation projects and $6 million supported 32 community-based organizations as part of DEC’s Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants.
Since the inception of the Clean Green Schools Initiative, NYSERDA has awarded $82 million to 14 installation projects across 45 buildings and is in the process of negotiating contracts with additional school districts across the state, which are expected to be announced later this year. In May, Governor Hochul announced more than $100 million available to make clean energy upgrades in public schools across New York State through the Clean Green Schools Initiative. Proposals are due on August 18, 2026.
Additionally, more than $125 million was made available to upgrade affordable multi-family housing in upstate New York. The State’s new Affordable Multi-Family Program Upstate (AMP Up) provides support for a wide range of cost-effective energy efficiency and electrification improvements in these residential buildings and serves as a one-stop-shop to enhance building performance, deliver utility bill savings, and improve comfort and quality of life for New Yorkers. Additional information about the program, incentive levels, and how to access and submit an application can be found on the AMP Up website here.
In 2025, $2.5 million in grant funds supported 51 organizations through the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant program, and $63 million in capital grants funded 21 projects to expand safe swimming access across New York State through the NY SWIMS Initiative.
FY 2027 Enacted Budget Highlights
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the FY27 Enacted Budget includes an additional $1 billion investment in the Sustainable Future Program, reinforcing New York’s historic commitment to clean energy and greenhouse gas mitigation. The EmPower+ program will receive a $200 million boost – combining $150 million directly from the Sustainable Future Program with an additional $50 million included in the NYSERDA capital budget. This program has been extremely successful in helping people keep their homes comfortable, affordable, and environmentally friendly while generating new clean energy jobs for local contractors.
With New Yorkers struggling with high energy costs and record gas prices at the pump thanks to bad federal policies, the new budget includes a one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) checks to help provide needed relief to New Yorkers. The FY27 Budget also establishes a Ratepayer Protection Plan to modernize the State’s approach to regulating utilities with a commitment to ensuring energy remains affordable, and reaffirms New York’s commitment to environmental leadership by appropriating $425 million to the Environmental Protection Fund, using $25 million from the Sustainable Future Program to provide a record $450 million for important environmental programs.
New York State's Climate Agenda
New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 40 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors. The State is also working to disburse the historic $2 billion Sustainable Future Program, which will deliver targeted funding to lower emissions, reduce household energy costs, and spur green job growth.
