As Toronto braces for another hotter than usual summer, some climate policy experts and advocates say a chief heat officer could help the city adapt to extreme temperatures faster.

Municipalities around the world are appointing a central person to lead heat resilience teams, which are task forces responsible for developing and overseeing heat management and adaptation solutions.

Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Athens and Melbourne are among the cities that already have a chief heat officer, says Caroline Metz, managing director of climate resilience and health at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo.

"Cities are prioritizing heat as a threat," she told CBC Toronto. "They're investing in a more climate resilient future, looking to protect health and wellness

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