Arbor Day Foundation’s Post

There are countless heartbreaking stories to tell about #climatechange impacting #vulnerablecommunities and threatening their lives. One that plays in my mind constantly is the experience I had 7 years ago with #hurricanemaria living in Puerto Rico. There are also everyday #climatestories that, while less dramatic, contribute to the bigger climate issue, like #extremeheat. I’m sharing this Op-Ed published recently by TIME and inspired by a personal story, as a call to action for us all to embrace #nature and #naturebasedsolutions to combat the #climatecrisis. Thanks to WWF Changing Climate and the climate team for their support. https://lnkd.in/eCqKymT2

Really great article on the role of greenspace in addressing extreme heat. Trees and parks aren't the only solution for protecting people from extreme heat, but they can make a huge difference... to the tune of 18 degrees as this article points out! As summer temperatures continue to sizzle (triple digit temperatures are baking the West and Southeast right now), it's important to: 1) Raise awareness of the challenge and associated solutions; 2) call attention to structural inequities that have led many black, brown, and low-income neighborhoods to be hotter than more affluent white neighborhoods; 3) test new strategies and expand best practices for cooling our communities using a suite of nature-based solutions; and 4) expand public and private funding for implementation (less reports, more action!).

Extreme Heat sits at the intersection of people x planet. As major cities hire heat officers and develop ways to combat it’s impact on vulnerable communities and the energy grid, it’s one of the clearest examples of how we are living with climate change now. Let’s start talking about adaptation to this new reality that doesn’t leave anyone behind while also working to mitigate future impacts. The future is going to be hit and wet. How you fare in it shouldn’t be based on whether you are able to air condition your way out of your reality. https://lnkd.in/ePe2vW53

🌡️ Climate Change and the Sun Belt: A Shift in Migration Patterns 🏡 An interesting article discusses how the widespread adoption of air conditioning in the 1970s led to a significant migration from the Snow Belt to the Sun Belt. However, this trend is now reversing due to the increasing number of extreme heat days. The article highlights that as climate change makes warm places hotter and cold places more livable, more Americans are staying put in the North, while others are leaving the South. In fact, the researchers found that during the last decade, hotter counties in general saw declines in their higher-educated populations. This suggests that people with the financial means to do so are actually leaving warmer areas of the country. This shift in migration patterns is a stark reminder of the real-world impacts of climate change. It also underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to mitigate these effects. "Climate deniers will find it increasingly difficult to explain away rising costs related to a warming planet." Let’s continue to push for sustainable practices in our industries and work together to create a better, more sustainable future for all. 🌍💡 #ClimateChange #SunBelt #Migration #Sustainability

In the face of rising temperatures and extreme heat events, Phoenix is taking proactive steps to adapt and protect its vulnerable populations, particularly the homeless. The city's efforts, which include opening overnight cooling spaces and extending the hours of existing cooling centers, are a testament to the urgent need for adaptive strategies in urban areas grappling with the consequences of climate change. The staggering 645 heat-related deaths last year in Maricopa County highlight the lethal impact of prolonged heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change and urban heat islands. The appointment of a state heat officer and the city's nation-first city heat officer underscore the recognition of heat as a public health threat that requires dedicated attention and resources. These initiatives, including the call center with bilingual community health workers and mobile solar-powered cooling units, represent a multifaceted approach to heat relief and prevention. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of community-based solutions and the need for broader systemic changes to address the root causes of vulnerability, such as housing insecurity and inadequate infrastructure. Phoenix's response to last year's deadly heat wave is a compelling example of how cities can and must evolve in the face of a changing climate. By prioritizing the well-being of its residents and investing in resilience measures, Phoenix is setting a precedent for other urban areas to follow. As we continue to witness the intensifying effects of global warming, it is imperative that cities across the globe learn from Phoenix's experience and take decisive action to safeguard their communities. Read more about Phoenix's changing tactics after a deadly heat wave: [ #ClimateAction #Heatwave #SustainableCities

Despite what some may say (including various elected officials and presidential candidates), the planet is unequivocally warming. One of the pernicious aspects of this warming, though, is that it is far from uniform. The San Francisco Chronicle published an article this weekend about temperature variations along the BART Network. On July 6, it was 108 degrees at the Walnut Creek BART Station, while it was just 63 degrees in Daly City. https://lnkd.in/ekFksuGn This morning, the The New York Times published an article about the massive differences in temperature between the hottest and coolest bus stops. Unsurprisingly, the 400 hottest, "some of the busiest in the city, many located in impoverished communities with mostly people of color," were 14.5 degrees hotter than the coolest 400. https://lnkd.in/e4XPSebV We have to confront the fact that these temperature differences across our transit systems represent not just a transit equity issue, but also a dangerous health equity and environmental justice issue. All this on the heels of a new study in Nature Magazine finding that extreme heat exacerbated by our impacts on the climate contributed to 48,000 deaths in Europe last year—the hottest year on record. The #climate crisis is a #health crisis. https://lnkd.in/eVhTqxPz #extremeheat #sf #nyc #environmentaljustice #transit

Most people I know who have moved cities recently or are planning to move have cited climate change as at least one factor in their decisions. I expect the weight of the climate change factor to dramatically increase over the next 5-10 years. It will change entire economies and local cultures. It will mean eventually in some places it will be extremely difficult to sell a home. In the US, coastal, Southeast, Gulf, and Southwest cities will struggle to adapt. These are interesting times. "As climate change makes extreme weather more common and intense, it is also forcing Americans to move. A Forbes report released last month found that a third of surveyed Americans who are moving cited climate change as a motivating factor to move." https://lnkd.in/gtYN8Ssj

Will climate change result in a scenario where Ypsilanti, Michigan becomes a thriving metropolis? #greatlakes #climatechange #economics #migration #realestate #water #cities #michigan #ypsilanti As climate change brings disasters and increasingly unlivable conditions to growing swaths of the United States, it also has the potential to remake America’s economic landscape: Extreme heat, drought, and fires in the South and West could present an opportunity for much of the North. Tens of millions of Americans may move in response to these changes, fleeing coasts and the countryside for larger cities and more temperate climates. In turn, the extent to which our planet’s crisis can present an economic opportunity, or even reimagining, will largely depend on where people wind up, and the ways in which they are welcomed or scorned. This time, the Great Lakes’ water is what will persuade people to move here: Humans have long migrated in pursuit of fresh water. Temperature will also make Michigan an attractive destination for climate migrants. For the coldest places, global warming promises newfound productivity and economic growth. The research connecting economic activity to cool temperatures suggests that there is an optimum climate for human productivity, and as ideal conditions for humans shifts northward, some places may soon find themselves smack in the middle of it. The same research suggests that when that happens, people are bound to follow. Indeed, big commercial agricultural companies and other land investors may already be anticipating this. Over the past several years, land values have skyrocketed across the upper Midwest, as buyers including Bill Gates have snatched up thousands of acres of farmland. To the south, they see the Ogallala Aquifer being depleted, and in California, regulatory mandates potentially reducing water consumption in the Central Valley by 40 to 50 percent, while in northern Michigan, there is more water than anyone knows what to do with. https://lnkd.in/gS9dK6Zt

Recent research by University of Michigan scholars challenges the idea that six Great Lakes cities, including Ann Arbor, serve as "climate havens" resistant to climate change's adverse effects. Findings suggest these cities might face among the most significant temperature rises soon. These “climate havens” in the Midwest are already encountering climate change repercussions, including severe storms and flooding. Notably, a catastrophic flood in 2021 inflicted millions of dollars in damages across the metro Detroit area. Additionally, climate change has manifested in other ways in Michigan, such as smoke and debris from Canadian wildfires, which significantly deteriorated air quality. This decline has posed heightened health risks, especially for individuals with chronic conditions like asthma. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3U401oI The Michigan Daily Graphic by: Matthew Prock #sbndetroit #sustainablebusinessnetwork #sustainablebusinessnetworkdetroit #environmentaljustice #sustainability #businesseducation #southeastmichigan #detroit #sustainableimpact #thegreatlakesway #greatlakes #climatehaven #climatechange #research #universityofmichigan #temperatureincrease #extremeweather #flooding #midwest #airquality #publichealth

Great article by my colleague Carlos Claussell. I, too, find myself saying "no" to my 5-year-old when she wants to play outside during sweltering days. I have had to find and pay for indoor playground options which is heartbreaking. I will continue to fight and advocate for tree planting and other initiatives to address this issue. We must also actively work to help residents who are dealing with the impacts of extreme heat and don't have the resources to cope with it today. Environmental justice is working on long-term solutions while providing short-term relief to those suffering from years of disinvestment. #treeadvocacy #climatechange #extremeheat #enviromentaljustice