Credit: Brent Moore/Flickr

Louisville uses trees to tackle urban heat and health disparities

A decade after Louisville became the fastest-growing urban heat island in the US, a groundbreaking study shows that planting trees in underserved areas leads to health improvements by lowering inflammation rates among residents.

Linda Baker reports for Bloomberg.

In short:

Louisville earned a $12.6 million federal grant to plant trees in low-income neighborhoods, reducing extreme heat and air pollution.
The Green Heart Louisville study revealed a 13-20% reduction in inflammation markers among residents, reducing heart disease risks.
The project pioneers using mature trees and data-driven planting to target areas most affected by air pollution.

Key quote:

“There is nowhere you can put a tree where it doesn’t improve the situation in terms of cooling and air quality.”

— Brian Stone, director of the Urban Climate Lab at Georgia Tech University

Why this matters:

The results are part of a growing body of research that suggests urban trees are more than just a way to beautify a neighborhood. They may be a prescription for better health, especially in marginalized communities facing higher pollution levels and rising temperatures. Read more: Trees, science and the goodness of green space.

www.bloomberg.com

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Credit: jmattaikenjd2009/Pixabay

British Columbia's election may shift climate and Indigenous policies

British Columbia’s upcoming election presents voters with a choice between the BC NDP’s progressive approach to climate action and Indigenous rights and the BC Conservative Party’s climate denial and opposition to shared land use with First Nations.

Arno Kopecky reports for The Walrus.

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