NRDC Extreme Heat Campaign: Raising Heat Awareness Through Film and TV

Hollywood scriptwriters will weave extreme heat dangers and safety measures into film and TV storylines over the next two years. This campaign addresses a critical gap: although extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the US, public awareness of its risks and simple protective actions—hydration, shade, checking on neighbours—remains low. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) will use its existing relationships with entertainment industry storytellers to embed accurate, actionable heat-health messages into popular onscreen narratives, reaching audiences far beyond traditional public health campaigns. If successful, the campaign could shift how millions of people perceive and respond to heatwaves. Viewers might absorb—without a lecture—that heat illness is preventable, that certain groups (older adults, outdoor workers, people without air conditioning) are especially vulnerable, and that small actions save lives. The secondary benefit could be increased public support for policies that protect at-risk communities, such as cooling centres, tree planting, or utility assistance programmes. This is not fundamental science; it is a targeted communications intervention using the proven reach of Hollywood storytelling to turn awareness into behaviour change.