theGrio: Climate Crisis Presents A Lot Of Problems. Centering Equity Offers A Number Of Solutions.
Robinson | a Smart Surfaces Coalition feature
The climate crisis did not happen on its own, nor is it a product of nature. Centuries of inequitable and racist public policies dug us into the current climate hole, and it is going to take just and equitable public policies to dig us out. We begin the long journey toward equity by introducing inexpensive and fast-working solutions to city and metropolitan area policymakers and legislators, helping them reimagine the design and use of public spaces. By investing in cool, green, highly reflective surfaces (roads, roofs, parking lots, etc.) cities are lowering temperatures while simultaneously reaping benefits across the board from public health to economic growth.
Each of these transformative measures is cost-effective, sustainable and easily deployable. For example, by simply using cool, reflective roofs alone, cities can experience a citywide temperature reduction of up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting trees citywide, (with a concentration in neighborhoods where trees and green spaces have been historically under-developed) could add another 5 to 10 degrees of cooling while simultaneously lowering pollution rates. In Black and low-resource neighborhoods where deadly urban heat island effects are prominent, the full use of smart surface models could be a game-changer for health, public safety, and job creation.
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REV. DR. JON ROBINSON is Senior Program Director at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C.