REDLINING’S INTENSIFYING HARM: RISING TEMPERATURES, HOTTER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HOW TREES CAN HELP

Presented by: Cate Mingoya, Groundwork USA and Dr. Vivek Shandas, Portland State University

Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series 

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:15pm ET

Many are now well aware of the inequitable distribution of trees in our urban areas. Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities often face the greatest burden of heat, air pollution, and flooding – all of which urban greening can help to mitigate. These inequitable patterns and the related persistent disparities in human health are an enduring legacy of various forms of housing segregation, which were officially legal through the late 1960s. In this presentation, Dr. Vivek Shandas will provide a summary of one pernicious and federally-sponsored urban planning policy officially begun in the 1930s—redlining—and the current day implications on the distribution of tree canopy, extreme urban heat, and the quality of life for those historically underserved communities. Cate Mingoya will discuss the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Partnership and how residents are working to intervene in municipal planning systems to ensure a more equitable distribution of climate mitigation resources.

More Information: Groundworkusa.org