In the heart of Tucson, where summer temperatures often soar, Ladd Keith emerged as a key figure in the battle against extreme heat. As a child, Keith found solace indoors, indulging in video games to escape the sweltering Arizona sun. Today, he is a renowned expert in urban planning for extreme heat, a pressing climate issue that poses significant risks to public safety.
Keith serves as an associate professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the University of Arizona. He also leads the Heat Resilience Initiative within the Arizona Institute for Resilience. His leadership extends to securing federal funding aimed at enhancing city responses to extreme heat.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in media arts and a master’s in urban planning from the University of Arizona, Keith initially worked as a planning consultant. His dedication to urban planning was evident during his tenure as chair of Tucson’s planning commission, where he played a pivotal role in drafting a new general plan in 2013.
Throughout his Ph.D. studies in arid lands, Keith focused on how Southwestern cities address climate change through urban planning. He considers his role as a social scientist vital in bridging the gap between climate scientists, public health experts, and urban planners.
In 2022, Keith co-authored Planning for Urban Heat Resilience, a pioneering guide from the American Planning Association that specifically targets extreme heat challenges.
One of Keith’s significant achievements includes being the lead author of a 2021 article in Nature, which provided key strategies for city policymakers to protect residents from extreme heat. His insights have shaped the U.S. National Heat Strategy, the Maturity Model for Heat Governance in 2024, and the United Nations’ Extreme Heat Risk Governance Framework and Toolkit.
Public engagement is foundational to Keith’s work. He is frequently interviewed by major media outlets such as NPR, CBS News, and CNN. Recently, he launched a Substack newsletter, Heatshed, to further explore urban heat governance and planning.
“I was absolutely shaped by the U of A’s land grant mission,” Keith remarks. “All of my research is focused on advancing society and returning practical benefits to people.”
Learn more at arizona.edu/sandstorm.
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