Communities across the U.S. regularly experience extreme heat, floods and other disasters each year due to climate change. To protect the health of people living in these communities, the American Lung Association is offering steps that individuals and community leaders can take this spring to help reduce extreme heat this summer.
Two-thirds of the average U.S. city is made up of roads, parking spaces, sidewalks and roofs. Since these surfaces are typically dark and non-porous, they contribute to urban heat, flooding, increased air pollution and poor health. There are practical solutions that can help mitigate urban heat, improve air quality and benefit health. These solutions include reflective (cool) roofs and pavements, green roofs, trees, solar photovoltaics (PV) and rain gardens. The use of these innovative technologies can cool cities by 5°F and deliver large reductions in flooding.
“From the direct impact of the temperature and weather changes to the special burdens these changes place on the most vulnerable communities, climate change seriously threatens our wellness—especially our lung health,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Increased heat in cities, combined with emissions from power plants, motor vehicles and other pollution sources creates ozone pollution, also known as smog. Smog impacts everyone but is especially harmful to certain people like children, seniors, pregnant individuals and people with lung disease, low-income communities and communities of color.”
Here are three steps that both individuals and community leaders can take now to help reduce extreme heat this summer: Other strategies to reduce urban heat include using public transportation, carpooling and installing cooling centers in extreme conditions.
The American Lung Association is an active member of the Smart Surfaces Coalition and encourages both individuals and city leaders take actions to reduce extreme heat and air pollution in communities. Learn more and get involved at Lung.org/smart-surfaces.
