Ashley Ward, a senior policy associate at Duke’s Nicholas Institute, speaks with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, May 18. As we prepare for summer weather, Ward shares tips on how people can stay cool at a lower cost. She warns, though, that more policy changes must be taken to prepare for extreme heat — especially as weather models predict the 2024 summer and El Niño season will be powerful.

Each Thursday “News on the Hill” centers conversations around climate and sustainability for Climate Thursday. We visit with community leaders, policy makers, and experts in the fields of climate science and sustainability in order to put all of the latest climate news into local context.