The 2nd US Caribbean Extreme Heat Summit
03/10/2025 8:00 am 
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus 
On March 10 & 11, 2025, the Caribbean Collaborative Action Network (CCAN), in coordination with several other key partners, convened the 2nd US Caribbean Extreme Heat Summit. Held in a hybrid format at the University of Puerto Rico’s Medical Sciences Campus, this major convening gathered over 147 participants, bringing together diverse sectors from across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The summit focused on strengthening the region’s response to extreme weather events, with a particular emphasis on heat-related emergencies that are increasingly affecting school systems, public health, and economic resilience. This summit was built on the progress made in the first summit held in early 2024. It served as a platform for exchanging strategies, sharing tools, and co-developing next steps to protect lives and
minimize disruption during future emergencies.
Participation included representatives from: Education sector – school directors, teachers, school nurses, and education administrators (public and private); Emergency management agencies – including Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau and local municipal offices; Health professionals – from the Department of Health, clinics, and public health organizations; Scientific and technical experts – researchers, engineers, and climate service providers; Communitybased organizations and nonprofits; Policymakers and institutional leaders. This broad participation enabled productive dialogue, ensuring that proposed solutions reflected a variety of operational realities.
The summit elevated the urgency of preparing for extreme heat as a serious public health, operational, and economic risk. By aligning the efforts of government agencies, educators, scientists, and community organizations, the event laid the foundation for more coordinated, informed, and life-saving action across the region. A comprehensive report was developed following the summit, compiling key data, insights, and recommendations, and outlining actionable next steps for various sectors to strengthen adaptation and response to extreme heat events.
You can access the presentations and related documents here.
You can access the full recordings here:
