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
In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.
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.
A comparison of the thermal (top) and vegetation (bottom) maps of New York City showing lower temperatures where the vegetation is dense. From NASA.
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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