Climate change continues to cause notable increases in ambient temperatures and extreme weather events such as heat waves. Urban heat islands are metropolitan areas that further exacerbate high temperatures and heat waves via the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The UHI effect is a phenomenon where temperatures in urban areas are consistently higher than their surrounding rural areas. There are many approaches to mitigating these high temperatures and the heat stress that they cause. Alterations to city structure are foundational to combating heat, as differences in building size, organization, and materials used can all meaningfully lower temperatures through ventilation, shade, and minimizing heat trapping. Green spaces, particularly tree canopies, are also excellent sources of heat mitigation via increased ventilation, shade, and transpiration. In addition to tackling sources of heat, metropolitan areas must also invest in public health solutions such as surveillance systems to adequately prevent and protect against heat stress. There are some challenges that arise in the effort to mitigate the UHI effect, however. Funding is a major stopping block, as urban planning and public health strategies alike often accrue significant costs. Additionally, policy-based solutions require voter support which can often necessitate specific voter engagement tactics such as celebrity endorsements. A common thread across every mitigation and protection strategy is the importance of prioritizing marginalized groups that are more affected by heat stress. People of color are at a greater risk of experiencing higher temperatures due to racist policies such as redlining that create denser, hotter neighborhoods within UHIs.