Urban Heat and Climate Justice: A Landscape of Thermal Inequity in Pinellas County, Florida

What is it about?

The urban heat island effect and increasing baseline temperatures due to climate change place socially vulnerable communities at higher risk during heatwaves. The paper examines where people of lower socioeconomic status and minorities live within the urban area of Pinellas County, Florida and how their location places them at increased risk of heat exposure. THis is because of their distance from greenspace and amenities like parks and the waterfront which act as protective factors for wealthier communities.

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Why is it important?

Extends environmental justice and climate justice research to the issue of urban heat exposure. The methodology also utilizes spatial statistics to enhance validity of the analysis.