Author: Howard Creel

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

The United States Fourth National Climate Assessment, published in 2018, is a masterly and stark statement on the climate change underway in the US. I recommend downloading the full document now in case it disappears after the next election.

The climate is changing and everything is on the move. According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, we should expect substantial changes in the ranges in which of animals and sea life are found. This includes the disappearance of some familiar species from the habitats we are used to and the arrival and proliferation of invasive species as ecosystems struggle to adapt to a climate changing at an alarming rate.

According to the report’s Summary Findings, we can expect that the “valued aspects of regional heritage and quality of life tied to ecosystems, wildlife, and outdoor recreation will change with the climate, and as a result, future generations can expect to experience and interact with the natural environment in ways that are different from today.”

“Landscapes and seascapes are changing rapidly, and species, including many iconic species, may disappear from regions where they have been prevalent or become extinct, altering some regions so much that their mix of plant and animal life will become almost unrecognizable”.

Third US National Climate Assessment

In addition to the changes in phenology that we have already discussed (Climate Action Day 61), climate change in the US is being manifested in a general northward shift or a change to higher elevation for many species, in response to climate stressors. Survival of affected populations forced to make these shifts in geography are additionally stressed when the landscapes are artificially fragmented with a loss of the connectivity of their habits.

A concern for the current and future impacts of these changes are driving groups to combine resources to mitigate the effects and help create viable alternate landscapes to preserve habitat and wildlife. The Climate Change Response Network for instance, is a “collaborative, cross boundary approach among scientists, managers, and landowners to incorporate climate change considerations into natural resource management”.

A major effort under this framework is driven by Ducks Unlimited, Inc., an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing habitats for North American waterfowl, not only for the species, but for the hunters that hunt them. Along with the National Wild Turkey Federation and state and federal partners, the group has executed a sustained science-based adaptation strategy to help bottomland hardwood forest adapt to climate change, thus preserving the waterfowl habitat they cherish.

There is a simple action for individuals to take: enthusiastically pay the fees charged by federal, state, and local governments for your recreational activities. The funds from licenses and permits are funneled into managing and conserving the wildlife habitat that we enjoy. The US Fish and Wildlife sold over $900 million in hunting licenses and over $750 million in fishing licenses in 2021. Along with Federal excise taxes, a sizeable portion of these funds support state-level conservation, preservation and recreation projects.

Of the $750million spent on fishing licenses in 2021, 34% of the funds went to fisheries, 32% to wildlife, 22% to support wildlife officers, and the remainder to other key recreation infrastructure and conservation programs.

In Minnesota you can contribute to conservation efforts and show your commitment by paying a nominal upcharge for one of several critical habitat license plate designs. You can also pledge an annual contribution to the Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Program that works to preserve wetlands, prairies, forest and other important wildlife habitat in Minnesota.

No matter what you do in nature – hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birdwatching, etc. – the fees you pay for licenses, permits, and entry fees are a critical resource for dedicated state and federal officials to use to preserve and protect critical habitat. Pay your fees without complaint and enjoy your time in nature. Has Heidi says, “future generations will thank you”.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 82: Vote in Every Election

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

“Climate change will only help Minnesota!”.

I am not sure the folks who say that understand what they are saying. It is a grim joke. Minnesota embodies the change in climate change. According to NOAA, annual average temperatures warmed by 3.2°F from 1951-2012, faster than the national and global rates.

Our winters are changing fast. Overnight low temperatures warmed almost twice as fast as mid-day high temperatures from 1951 through 2012. This is what is making Minnesota outpace the national averages. In this time period, the average high temperatures rose 2.3°F (1.3°C) at the same time the average lows rose 4.1°F (2.3°C). There are over 20 fewer days a year where temperatures fall below freezing.

Winter recreation is big part of Minnesota’s identity: ice fishing, dog sled races, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. All of this is predicated on cold weather, frozen lakes, and snow covered landscapes. The winter economy is diverse. Our lack of snow puts a financial strain on small businesses built around snow removal.

As the climate change impacts are felt, it may require a significant shift in the economies of individuals, businesses, and communities. Events may be cancelled. Tourist may not show up. Companies may lose business and ultimately fail.

It is not just Minnesota. The impact on ski resorts may be profound and unsettling – hard to predict and plan for. To stay in business, in some seasons resorts may rely on snowmaking which is energy and water intensive. In others, they may face record snowfall levels. Climate change brings uncertainty that affects economies.

If you enjoy winter recreation, you should reflect on how the changes will impact you personally. As the old saying goes, “everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it”. Maybe it is a trite sentiment, but we can embrace the uncertainty by joining together with those that share our passion and find a way together.

If you are motivated, you can find local and national groups of professional and amateur athletes and winter enthusiasts that have joined together to address climate change. One of these groups, Protect Our Winters (POW), was founded by professional snowboarder to “help passionate outdoor people protect the places and experiences they love from climate change”.

It is a powerful group with a focused mission and a track record of accomplishment and advocacy. You may be motivated to channel your energy and passion for outdoor recreation and sport into supporting a group like POW. Or maybe it is a model for you to join with your own group of committed, passionate kindred spirits to protect what you care about.

“… finding a group of people who share similar goals and interests can help drive climate action. This shift from ‘I’ to ‘We’ can help sustain climate work and lessen feelings of helplessness and hopelessness”

Heidi Roop

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 81: Pay Land Use Fees

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

In early October of 2023, the Twin Cities Marathon was cancelled due to a forecast of temperatures during the race reaching an unseasonably high of 91°F. More years than not, the concern is low temperatures not dangerous heat – the average temperature on race day is 66°F.

“The latest weather forecast update projects record-setting heat conditions that do not allow a safe event for runners, supporters and volunteers,” organizers said in a statement. “Extreme heat conditions can tax both runners and our emergency medical response systems.”

This unseasonably warm winter in Minnesota has been bad news for many and good news for some. On one hand, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon has been cancelled in January 2024 due to lack of snow. Bad news for mushers and snow enthusiasts. But for some, good news! Some golf courses open briefly in our warm January and because of the mild conditions, the 2024 season is starting up already. For the avid golfers, here is a list of open courses.

In some areas, warming trends my increase the number of days we are able to go out and exercise and play in the warm weather. But as Heidi points out, the temperatures for outdoor exercise is a “Goldilocks” situation, with a “just right” range of temperatures that allow for maintaining human health.

Climate change will drive high temperatures, humidity, and poor air quality. In previous periods with poor air quality, it was reported that “vigorous” physical activity was reduced considerably. This trend will continue and regularly scheduled sporting events will have to anticipate heat waves and make adjustments, like the Australian Open extreme heat policy, which is based on a threshold reading of the wet-bulb globe temperature.

. As temperatures warm, we will need to acclimate to increasing heat and humidity and carefully consider the state of our health for even moderate physical activity. We need to be in tune with our bodies and know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The heat index is commonly reported and a good indicator for safety = above 85°F you should be concerned about your health.

If you choose to exercise outside in hot weather, use a personal health monitor to keep track of your exertion. It makes sense to develop a cross-training routine indoors for the high heat index days. Watch your sun exposure and stay hydrated!

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 80: Cherish Winter Recreation

Howard Creel

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

Your cosmetics are volatile. And some of them, like moisturizers, are often opened close enough that you inhale a higher dose then you otherwise would in the ambient air. In one study, selected products were found emit more than 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – this includes products marketed with key greenwash words like “green”, “natural”, and “organic”.

NOAA found that perfumes make up a significant proportion of the emissions traced directly to households. And as the transportation sector has tightened controls on VOC emissions, a study of ambient air pollution in Los Angeles showed that household emissions were roughly at the same level as that of the emissions from fuels (from storage and spills, not combustion).

And in a very intriguing pre-pandemic study, commuters in Boulder Colorado emitted a compound referred to as D5 siloxane copiously during their morning commute. Not from their tailpipes, but from the personal care products they applied before getting into their cars to start their commute. Remarked the researchers: “In this changing landscape, emissions from personal care products are becoming important. We all have a personal plume, from our cars and our personal care products”.

What do formulators put VOCs like D5 siloxane also referred to as cyclomethicone (the chemist can’t resist: technically decamethylcyclopentasiloxane) into their formulations? Apparently adding cyclomethicone ensures that your hair has a silky-smooth texture and changes the surface tension in wet hair allowing you to run a comb through your wet hair without snagging or tangling. 

When you walk out the door with wet hair on your way to the office, the D5 slowly evaporates into the atmosphere and because it is a long-lived chemical it lasts long to react with other pollution to help form the ground level particulate and ozone pollution we covered in an earlier post.

And watch out for the microbeads contained in many popular personal care product. Often added as a mild skin abrasive or exfoliant, these compounds are a key constituent of persistent microplastic pollution. Beat The MicroBead has a search engine (and app) to identify their use in your favorite brands.

With the largely unregulated glut of personal care products, it will be difficult to settle on brands that align with your personal values. As with other consumer product selections, start by researching your current brands and examine their claims with your greenwashing filter set on it’s highest setting. The industry is built on nebulous technical claims marketed with enthusiasm backed by big budgets. There is probably an enthusiasm for companies to address the market for environmentally conscious consumers and make cynical and suspect claims.

While the loud voices of the unscrupulous suppliers may be deafening and confusing, brands that prioritize sustainable and ethical practice are trying to find you. The ones that make their products with environmentally friendly formulations and packaging, and embrace sustainable manufacturing and business practices. With a little research, you can find them.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 79: Change Your Fitness Patterns

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

I am starting this post with the same graphic from my last one. I believe it is the finest example climate change art – impactful, stark, and disturbing. From street artist Isaac Cordal, a Spanish Galician working in the urban environment. The installation was from his Follow the Leaders installation in Berlin, Germany which he described as “a critical reflection on our inertia as a social mass”. 

“Visual art, music, writing, poetry, theater, and other forms of creative expression are important tools in our climate action toolboxes”, according to Heidi Roop. Not only can the complexities of climate change be explored effectively and with nuance in creative expression, the act of creating can be an approach to bolster mental health – channeling our feelings into a form which can be inspirational and thought-provoking for others

Striking expressions can be simple, effective, and striking. The simple graphic below called “the climate stripes” was created by Ed Hawkins at the University of Reading. Showing the average global temperature change from 1850 to the present day – the intense red of modern day temperatures is a warning of the warming underway.

Artwork motivated by the climate are seen in galleries and installations around the world. You can find 11 examples of curated climate here, including The Tempestry Project bringing climate science to life through knitting and We Are Frying! exploring how global warming affects autumn foliage.

And it not just visual expression. The Climate Music Project combines science and music and action “through the emotional power of music” to enable the creation and staging of science-guided music and visual experiences to inspire people to engage actively on the issue of climate change”. You can learn more here and have a listen.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 78: Buy Beauty Products Responsibly

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Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

If you are reading any of these posts you may have experienced climate grief. You may not have known what it was – a psychological response to ecological loss related to climate change. Manifested as profound sadness, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or numbness as you contemplate the climate crisis. Climate grief feeds climate anxiety. And given our overall state of anxiety today, it may add to the burdens on our mental health.

Climate anxiety from climate grief as we contemplate past or anticipate looming loss. And what are the stages of grief? How does climate grief manifest?

Denial when you don’t believe that climate change is a global emergency. Anger when you find that people don’t want to change their lifestyle in response to global warming. Bargaining when people convince themselves that climate change isn’t so bad to avoid facing the realities of the climate crisis. Depression when people get stuck in feelings of hopelessness or numbness in response to climate change. Acceptance is when people calmly accept the science of climate change and are ready to work towards solutions to preserve the planet.

We have language to describe these complex feelings – solastalgia is a neologism, formed by the combination of the Latin words sōlācium (comfort) and the Greek root -algia (pain, suffering, grief), that describes a form of emotional or existential distress caused by environmental change. It is best described as the lived experience of negatively perceived environmental change.

If you are discovering or connecting with your solastalgia, please watch this Ted Talk. In an affirming talk, Lertzman discusses the emotional effects of climate change and offers insights on how psychology can help us discover both the creativity and resilience needed to act on environmental issues.

Her message is that “psychology is the X factor for unlocking action on climate and ecological crises”. What action is she taking? Project InsideOut proposes “a way of leading while the world wakes up”. You are challenged to be a guide with five main skills to master: Attune – understand your people. Reveal – compassionate truth-telling. Convene – less talking at. More talking with. Equip – be a gardener. Grow your people. Offer tools and guidance. Sustain – go beyond the pledge.

Take the quiz to answer the question what kind of changemaker are you?

Heidi Roop suggests taking other, simple actions in response to your solastalgia. It starts with self-care – tending to our mental health as “we live through and observe the very real toll of climate change”. Engaging with your community, even helping your local officials to understand and preparing for potential climate change fueled disasters for your area can help provide a calming sense of security. Helping children understand the negative emotions they feel when exposed to something they may not fully understand.

And find your way to natural settings. Studies have shown that “our relationship with nature – how much we notice, think about and appreciate our natural surroundings – is a critical factor in supporting good mental health and preventing distress”.

I leave you with a sense of Active Hope. A favorite book of mine, which I urge you to read and absorb. I have had the pleasure and privilege of interacting with Chris Johnstone and his message is both comforting and empowering. And please consider taking the Active Hope Training course and donating to their foundation. You will find it fulfilling, it may reduce your anxiety and increase your resolve to take positive action in response to our climate change emergency.

“Active Hope is not wishful thinking. Active Hope is not waiting to be rescued…  Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life on whose behalf we can act”

Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re In Without Going Crazy

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 77: Express Yourself Creatively

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

As the climate changes there will be winners and losers. If we don’t act fast, we could be the losers. The winners? In the US it is likely to be ticks and mosquitos. Ticks like warm environments and climate change is creating more habitat where they thrive. The have a longer season and are migrating north to areas where they were previously excluded – and thriving. This is leading to more illness, mostly Lyme’s disease, which has doubled in the last two decades.

Mosquitos too. A study in the journal Nature Microbiology predicts that by 2050 close to 50% of the world’s population will be at increased risk from mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. Climate change is increasing the range of the mosquito species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the primary vectors for the spread of the Zika virus. According to the CDC, there is currently no vaccine or medicine to treat Zika.

There is a simple action to take. Avoid tick and mosquito bites. That’s it. Three approaches: use repellent, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and do what you can to control mosquitoes inside and outside of your home.

You can always stay indoors, I suppose.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 76: Don’t Discount Climate Anxiety

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

We tend to believe that we have made great strides in cleaning up our air since the passage of the Clean Air Act first enacted in 1963, and amended many times since then. We enjoy air with significantly reduced pollutants like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons.

Yet still as many as 20,000 deaths per year stem from the pollution – specifically the so-called particulate matter pollution that remains a persistent threat to human health. These tiny particles, less than 10 micrometers, can be inhaled deep into the lungs and from there into the bloodstream. The really small particles, designated PM2.5, are the biggest concern. It is believed that over 90% of children around the world breathe air with PM2.5 pollution that exceeds WHO guidelines.

2023 was a bad year for PM2.5 pollution in North America. Climate change drove an explosive wildfire season in Canada and the smoke from those fires created widespread air pollution emergencies across Canada and the US It is likely to be as bad or worse this summer, so it may be time for you to acquaint yourself with the Air Quality Index and the impact the particulate pollution (and ozone) from wildfires may have on your health.

There were widespread AQI red alerts during the summer of 2023 because of Canadian wildfires. These “unhealthy AQI” alerts can be triggered by particulate pollution or ozone that are at a high enough concentration that it was recommended that everyone limit outdoor exertion with specially sensitive for active children, older adults and those with respiratory issues.

In some areas for some time the AQI was a maroon alert, meaning the air was so hazardous that everyone is at risk for serious health effects. This could become the new normal for the immediate future, as long as the burning of our landscape is fueled by climate change.

The impact of air pollution is also an issue of equity. The EPA published a study in 2021 that said, in part, that “in the United States, people of color breathe more particulate air pollution on average, a finding that holds across income levels and regions of the US”. But even with recently enacted regulations on particulate pollution, without enforcement we are still facing the prospect of prolonged unhealthy air.

There is much you can do to amplify the call for air quality standards enforcement. But the climate change driven wildfire pollution, depending where you live, likely constitutes a a danger to your health and that of your family and community.

To protect yourself and your family, consider two solutions: an AQI sensor and improved air filtration. Heidi recommends considering PurpleAir sensors for your home. With a PurpleAir sensor, you become part of an ever-growing network that can map air quality in real time.

Consider donating PurpleAir sensors to your school, church, or community organization. You use the sensors and the networked AQI data they generate as a teaching tool on air quality. And those groups become a part of the PurpleAir sensor network through your action. “Get a sensor and become a community scientist!” And you can have access to high fidelity data for your research projects.

We also need to tend to our indoor air quality. A sensor can help keep track of your own environment and provide warning for you to enhance your air filtration. In a maroon alert, we are all advised to stay indoors, but if your indoor air quality is compromised, you remain at risk. Room air purifiers and strategically placed HEPA filters can be part of your toolkit.

One of the simplest solutions is the so-called Corsi-Roesenthal Box which consists of four HVAC particulate filters attached to form a cube, with a box fan affixed on top. Room air is effectively pulled through the filters and trapped. The design is inexpensive and effective and is a key strategy in mitigating the effects of air pollution on your health. For newer houses, placing one of these air purifiers near your fresh air intake can have a major impact on the quality of your air. Highly recommended!

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 75: Prepare for More Pests

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Health and Well-being

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

If you lived in the Pacific Northwest in June 2021, you suffered. You were assaulted by a heatwave of unprecedented intensity with temperatures 20-35°F above normal. The catastrophic heat wave, which resulted in Canada’s highest recorded temperature of 121°F resulted in hundreds of deaths, destruction of crops, floods from rapid snow and glacier melt and wildfires.

Nature declared the heat wave to be “one of the most anomalous regional extreme heat events to occur anywhere on Earth since temperature records began”. It is a warning to us in a warming world. The canary stopping its song in the coal mine. As we move into this new climate era, it is the heat that is going to kill us.

That is, in fact the basis of Jeff Goodells’ book The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on A Scorched Planet. Heat is the “first order threat that drives all other impacts of the climate crisis”. On a planet that is rapidly heating because of the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, local weather conditions will increasingly lead to deadly heat waves with more frequency.

And those heat waves are predatory – culling out the most vulnerable. People of 65 years of age, those with underlying health conditions – especially cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, and those living in lower income communities that may be less able to seek out and find escape from what can be a relentless killer.

 “When heat comes, it’s invisible. It doesn’t bend tree branches or blow hair across your face to let you know it’s arrived…. The sun feels like the barrel of a gun pointed at you.” 

Jeff Goodell in The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet

This danger is upon us and we must prepare. It will continue to become widespread and can impact everyone, not just those in southern climates that may expect it. “By 2100, even if we work to abate greenhouse gas emissions, the death toll from heat may be three times higher than it is now… even higher if we do nothing.

The death toll in the Pacific Northwest because most were caught unprepared in an area that has been built up and populated expecting moderate temperatures. According the Minnesota Department of Health, “extreme heat events in Minnesota are already occurring and are expected to become more common, more severe,
and longer-lasting as our climate changes”.

First of all, prepare yourself and your family with a comprehensive heat response plan. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Have a plan to seek cooling if you needed, especially if your air conditioning systems is rendered useless from heat related power outages. Dress appropriately and stay hydrated. And tend to your neighbors and those in the community that may be more susceptible to the heat.

And if you want to immerse yourself in the potential for humans to survive on this warming planet, read Mark Lynas’ book Our Final Warning: Six Degrees of Climate Emergency. “Rigorously cataloguing the very latest climate science, Mark Lynas explores the course we have set for Earth over the next century and beyond. Degree by terrifying degree, he charts the likely consequences of global heating and the ensuing climate catastrophe”.

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 74: Protect Your Air

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com

Nature-Based and Natural Solutions

The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024

If you live near a city, as we move into summer you are likely to begin to hear your weather person use the phrase urban heat island. In cities the dense built infrastructure absorbs more solar radiation and re-emits more heat compared to the the more natural surrounding areas. Because of this, the daytime temperatures of these urban heat islands can be as high as 7°F greater compared to the outlying areas.

In some areas the heat island effect is even more pronounced. In Seattle, for instance, there can be as high as a 20°F difference between the heated urban areas and the surrounding, more natural landscape. On-going climate change will intensify the effect of heat islands as summer season is lengthening, more areas are affected, there are more frequent heat waves, and those heat waves are becoming more intense.

In our cities, these increased heat impacts are an health equity issue. Extreme heat represents the greatest threat to human health related to climate change and because of the amplification of the heat island effect, city dwellers may be at greater risk. Even within a city so called intra-urban heat islands can be found in areas completely devoid of shade and vegetation, where the temperatures are even higher and more dangerous. Often these areas are home to low-income residents with higher populations of people of color, and were created by redlining, a historically prevalent racist practice.

The management of urban heat island is intuitive, technologically feasible, and cost-effective. The EPA outlines five main approaches:

• increasing tree and vegetative cover.
• installing green roofs.
• installing cool—mainly reflective—roofs. Also check out Action 25.
• using cool pavements (either reflective or permeable).
• utilizing smart growth practices.

We are drawn to the shade trees. Many of us know the beneficial effects on the mind, spirit, and body when you walk into a forest. The physical effect is well understood: shade and evapotranspiration can lower the temperature of areas shaded with trees and vegetation by as much as 45°F compared to unshaded areas. Because of this, we are often compelled to seek out natural spaces, surround our houses with shade trees, or value shady lots when purchasing a new house.

“I took a walk in the forest and came out taller than the trees”

To explore our spiritual connection to trees, read Henry David Thoreau

With this impetus, you can have a profound impact on adaptation by using the threat of the devastating heat health impacts associated with climate change to motivate you to work to improve your own community. “The strategic planting of trees, vines, and other vegetation to cover parking lots and the sides of buildings has shown to be an effective action reducing the heat island effect”.

Where to start? Depending on where you live, the focus should first be on the historical communities of color and low-income residents that are likely to be disproportionately exposed the the negative impacts of increased and more intense heat events. In addition to community services to provide relief, urban planning and restoration should take the long view and prioritize green infrastructure over grey.

“A society grows great when old people plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

A proverb attributed by many to the Greeks

Minnesota is trying to identify vulnerable areas in the Twin Cities. To drive the effort, the Metropolitan Council developed a Climate Vulnerability Assessment tool to empower local communities to plan for the impact of climate change. The Extreme Heat Map Tool allows you and your community to visualize the land surface temperature to determine areas of heat vulnerability.

The Metropolitan Council believes that “by changing our built and natural environments through policies, implementation, and sensible site design, we can reduce this extreme heat effect and thereby improve public health and livability.”

Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 73: Protect Yourself and Your Community from Extreme Heat

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Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com