Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy

🌍 France has been preparing for extreme heat for two decades!

UC Associate Research Professor and Director of the U of A Heat Resilience Initiative at the Arizona Institute for Resilience Ladd Keith was interviewed for Grist.org about the future of extreme urban heat adaptation.

As Europe faces record-breaking temperatures, Keith explains why cities must prepare for not only today's extreme heat, but for the even hotter future ahead. While many communities have made progress on heat resilience, Keith emphasizes that efforts must continue evolving as climate change intensifies.

"Cities across the world – even the ones that are doing the best that they can – are still preparing for the heat that we're experiencing today,” said Keith. “They're not doing a great job of really aggressively planning for the heat that we're going to experience tomorrow."

🔗Read the full article at the link below!
https://grist.org/extreme-weather/europe-heat-wave-adaptation-plans/

💧 Water conservation looks different for every community.

The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) has launched a new series of Arizona Water Conservation Factsheets designed to help rural communities, businesses, landowners, farmers, and residents make informed decisions about saving water.

From domestic well users and small community water systems, to green stormwater infrastructure, riparian restoration, and conservation strategies for small-scale farmers, these free, easy-to-use resources offer practical guidance tailored to Arizona's unique water challenges.

🔗Explore the full collection and discover how small changes can make a lasting impact on Arizona's water future at the link below!

https://www.wrrc.arizona.edu/conserve?publication=20260803&utm_campaign=Udall+Center+for+Studies+in+Public+Policy&utm_content=%F0%9F%92%A7+Water+conservation+loo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

💧🌎 The University of Arizona continues to lead in water research and innovation!

The U of A has been ranked No. 3 in the United States for water resources in the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings. This recognition reflects the university’s outstanding research performance, reputation, publications, and citations in the field of water resources.

From advancing water policy and management to developing solutions for communities facing growing water challenges, U of A researchers, students, and partners are working together to shape a more sustainable water future.

Congratulations to the faculty, staff, students, and collaborators whose dedication continues to strengthen Arizona’s (and the world’s!) water knowledge and resilience.

🔗You can find more information about this ranking at the link below!

http://wrrc.arizona.edu/news/u-ranked-3-nationally-water-resources

As extreme heat intensifies, how can cities prepare? 🌡️🏙️

A new study by Udall Center researchers Ladd Keith and Malini Roy, alongside collaborators Sara Meerow, Shaylynn Trego, and Saeideh Sobhaninia, introduces the first framework to combine three complementary methods for evaluating how city plans work together to address heat resilience.

By analyzing 19 plans across seven Arizona cities, the researchers identified opportunities to expand policy approaches, prioritize high heat-risk areas through targeted spatial strategies, and strengthen coordination across planning efforts.

🔗📖 Even better? The article is free to access, and you can read the full paper at the link below! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212095526001951?via%3Dihub

Meet our 2026 summer intern! ☀️

Monique Gonzales joined the Native Nations Institute team as part of Tohono O'odham Community College's ‘A Student’s Journey’ (ASJ) program this summer to learn about Indigenous Governance and help us prepare for our Remaking Tribal Constitutions Seminar (RTC).

A citizen of the Tohono O’odham Nation and descendant of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Monique also attended RTC as part of her final internship project related to studying how Native Nation Building principles are applied in her home community, the Chukut K*k District of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

We got the chance to speak with Monique about her experience in the ASJ program and hear a little bit about what comes next for this rising junior.

🔗 See what she had to say here:
https://nni.arizona.edu/news/tohono-oodham-community-college-grad-explores-indigenous-nation-building-during-nni-internship

What happens when communities take the lead in fighting PFAS contamination? 🌎💧

A recent Earth.Org article by author Sharon Udasin and Udall Center faculty member Adriana A. Zuniga-Teran explores how citizen-led movements are advancing environmental justice as communities fight the impacts of toxic "forever chemicals."

Drawing on research by University of Arizona (and Udall Center!) researchers Adriana A. Zuniga-Teran, Curtis Kline, Andrea K. Gerlak, and Gemma Smith, the article highlights how PFAS disproportionately impact fenceline communities and outlines a roadmap for community-driven action through organizing, scientific collaboration, and policy change.

It also marks the first release in a series of PFAS-focused articles on Earth.org featuring Udall Center research and researchers.

🔗 Read the full story at the link below!

https://earth.org/inside-the-citizen-led-battle-against-toxic-pfas-injustice/

UA heat expertise is gaining traction across the US! 📺

A Campus Insights Media interview featuring Dr. Ladd Keith is gaining major national influence, now picked up by more than 100 U.S. news outlets!

In this interview, Keith describes this year’s potential Super El Niño and the heat-related effects that people across the U.S. could face this summer because of the weather patterns we’ve been experiencing.

🔗⤵️Watch the full 3-minute interview at the link below! (You will need to create a FREE account to watch.)

https://www.campusinsightsmedia.com/u-arizona/1f6b257e-0731-4552-bf24-fbf3e1ed95be/

🌎 Dr. Ladd Keith was featured in National Geographic! 🤩

The article shares how cities can better prepare for rising temperatures by focusing on people-centered heat solutions. From strategic tree planting to personalized heat warnings, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to protecting communities from extreme heat.

As Ladd puts it: "At the end of the day, extreme heat affects everyone – not just through heat-related deaths and illnesses but quality of life…It really is more prevalent than a lot of folks understand in their daily lives."

🔗Read the full feature at the link below! https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/urban-heat-island-effect-solutions

🤔 So, what exactly is the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy?

The Udall Center is a community of researchers, educators, and outreach professionals at the University of Arizona.

We engage in research, education, and service to inform policy choices that promote justice, fairness, sustainability and well-being for Indigenous Peoples, all people, and the environment now and for future generations. Our research is conducted on water, land, and environmental concerns as we work to strengthen environmental governance and support Indigenous Peoples in their efforts to engage in nation-building and exercise their inherent sovereignty.

We explore how different levels of governance – from neighborhoods to nations – influence behavior through laws, regulation, agreements, investments, and more.

Our culture is dedicated to informed policymaking, knowing the importance of clear guidelines, and common goals.

🔗 Still curious? You can read more about us at the link below!
https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/