New Heat Vulnerability Index gains attention from the press in the city where it was invented
November 16, 2025
The Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs' Defusing Disasters Working Group, co-led by DEEPS professor Dan Horton, gained traction in the press during the summer of 2025, on account of their work on investigating and quantifying extreme heat events in Chicago, defining a Heat Vulnerability Index in the process. The group aims to empower and support vulnerable communities, enhance urban ecosystems, make cities more healthy and livable, so as to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme weather events. Please learn more from the following selection of articles by actual journalists.
04 Sep: Yale Climate Connections: 1995 Chicago heatwave killed hundreds, new tool aims to prevent next tragedy
27 Aug: Illinois Green Alliance: Assessing indoor heat risk: data-driven insights from Chicago
31 Jul: 15 West: West, South side residents question city’s latest extreme heat plan
24 Jul: CBS Chicago: Northwestern U. researchers develop tool to measure communities’ vulnerability to heat
17 Jul: Inside Climate News: 30 years after historic heatwave, systemic racism is still the root problem
15 Jul: Chicago Sun-Times: Chicagoans want more greenspace, worker protections for heatwaves survey finds
15 Jul: ABC Chicago: How is 1995 Chicago heatwave still influencing scientific research?
In addition, Dan provided expertise to the press on how particulate matter from Canadian wildfires and ozone pollution from local sources led to poor air quality in Chicago in the first week of August 2025.
06 Aug: Block Club Chicago: Chicago air quality expected to improve starting Wednesday after days of hazy skies