Trendlines August 2026 Newsletter

Issue 5 | Extreme Heat | August 2026

The 2026 summer heat has been the latest chapter in a clear upward trend. Unlike a one-off drought, extreme heat is not an episodic hazard. It is a chronic operating condition that has been increasing in duration and intensity for decades. The costs are becoming more visible across labor markets, food systems, and critical infrastructure. Strategic questions surrounding this theme have shifted from whether it will affect operations in the coming years to how leaders can best prepare for it.

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Joyce Bongongo is an associate fellow with the Hess Center for New Frontiers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. A special thanks to Grace Dereemer, Hess Center for New Frontiers (CSIS), for her contributions to research and editorial design.