Driving Climate & Environmental Justice through Community-Led Solutions | Program Management Expert in Social and Behavior Change & Equitable Engagement Strategies | Champion for Climate Resilience Solutions
As summer approaches, many of us will experience uncomfortably high temperatures, and some communities will suffer even greater because of inequities in their #builtenvironment and social infrastructure. I'm talking about #environmentaljustice communities in particular. There are populations, often Black, brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities, who live in neighborhoods with insufficient #greenspaces, tree and shade canopy, etc. from racist #redlining housing policies whose effects still reverberate into today. These communities experience unequal distribution of resources, which is a grave problem since these same communities often face higher rates of chronic health conditions, with contributing factors including few healthy food options and recreational facilities in their neighborhoods, barriers to accessing healthcare (insurance, transportation, etc), among other reasons. Extreme heat can exacerbate health conditions ranging from heart disease, kidney disease, respiratory illnesses, heat stroke, heat exhaustion and more. The heat and health tool may help #urbanplanning and #publichealth professionals (like me!) collaborate to identify the most vulnerable communities affected by extreme heat and harness community-based participatory methods to identify and implement sustainable solutions applicable to each setting. That said, I'm open to opportunities to work with planners and other professionals who are tackling urban heat and helping cities become more climate-resilient! #planning #socialjustice #environmentalracism #climatechange #extremeheat #urbanheat
Deputy Executive Officer for Equity & Community Programs, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Biden-Harris Administration Launches First Nationwide Heat and Health Tool to Protect Communities Most Impacted by #ExtremeHeat See tool here https://lnkd.in/g3heYfBy (click on Heat and Health Index on left panel). See technical document here - https://lnkd.in/gvgAEZbU Download data here https://lnkd.in/gEthPDcw Press Release here https://lnkd.in/gJpJ2FAi
Driving Climate & Environmental Justice through Community-Led Solutions | Program Management Expert in Social and Behavior Change & Equitable Engagement Strategies | Champion for Climate Resilience Solutions
2moPlanning for Health Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership Miguel Angel Vazquez, FAICP Tami Lin Evan Mallen Sylvie A. Binder Helen Moore, MPH Julia Eiferman Stephen Hammer Arielle King