The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting its inaugural Extreme Heat Forum, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15 at its new Environmental Hub, 219 State St., Santa Barbara.

The free community event, presented in partnership with the Gray Panthers Santa Barbara Network and the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, will address how seniors can prepare for extreme heat and play a more direct role in building a resilient community.

In July, extreme heat events have been felt throughout the United States and the world. In fact, July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, by a wide margin.

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres shared his deep concern over increasingly intense and frequent heat waves by warning the public: “The era of global warming has ended, the era of global boiling has arrived.”

So, it is crucial to stay informed about extreme heat and learn how to stay cool during these extreme events.

Dr. David Labell and Rich Appelbaum of Gray Panthers; Pam Bury and Maureen Ellenberger of Fearless Grandmothers;  Yumi Sera, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications; and Em Johnson, CEC’s director of Climate Resilience will lead a discussion of the real and lasting impacts on heat and climate change on elderly communities; how seniors can play a more active role in protecting vulnerable populations; and what actions are needed to ensure we support resiliency at the neighborhood level, and at the policy-level.

CEC’s Extreme Heat Forum will also be live-streamed via Zoom. Space is limited for the in-person option and an RSVP is required to attend both for in-person and via Zoom). RSVP now using this link (attending via Zoom is an option upon “check out”).

Find CEC on the web at CECSB.org.