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Climate Justice + Compound Events

Heat wave events are increasing in both frequency and intensity in large cities around the world. When episodes of extreme heat concur in time with other threats to human health – such as wildfires or a global pandemic – such combined health threats are characterized as “compound climate events.” Perhaps the most threatening compound climate event confronting large cities of the US is a concurrent heat wave and blackout event. As urban populations become ever more reliant upon mechanical air conditioning with rapidly rising temperatures, a resilient electrical grid system is imperative. Yet, recent trends show blackout events to be increasing rapidly as well, with the number of such events in the US increasing by more than a third since 2015.

Through the Three City Heat and Electrical Failure Adaptation Study (3HEAT), sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Urban Climate Lab is estimating the population health risk of a combined heat wave and blackout event for Atlanta, Detroit, and Phoenix. As shown here, our results highlight not only the wide extent of heat risk during blackout conditions, but the many households confronted regularly with hazardous levels of heat exposure due to a lack of continuous access to air conditioning – a critical issue of climate equity and indicator of health disparities in large cities. We are partnering with city governments to target heat management strategies to neighborhoods and residents most at risk to such compound climate threats. Our work on climate equity has been featured on National Public Radio and The Guardian.

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Affiliations

Georgia Tech | College of Design | School of City and Regional Planning

Sponsors

National Science Foundation | National Institute of Health | US Forest Service

Stone's book,The City and the Coming Climate: Climate Change in the Places We Live (Cambridge University Press), is available from Amazon.

Stone's book, The City and the Coming Climate: Climate Change in the Places We Live (Cambridge University Press), is available from Amazon.

Recent News

Georgians without air conditioning endure dangerous heat

How tech can help paint a clearer picture of extreme heat in Atlanta – WABE

Facing a sizzling summer, large parts of the U.S. risk blackouts, government agency warns - CBS News

UCL Presentation to Georgia Municipal Association

UCL study featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Yang's Georgia Tech studio applies new analytics to reduce flood risk, increase resiliency in Tokyo

Mallen interviewed on Dense City podcast episode, "Lights Out: Climate Change and Infrastructure Risk

Hot Summer Nights Get Hotter, and More Dangerous - New York Times

NYT Article: Biden Administration to Draft Rules on Workplace Heat Dangers

Everything Under the Sun Podcast, "Blackouts are increasing due to severe weather"

Wirecutter Article: Why I Douse My Whole Body With Cold Water Every Night

Atlanta's heat wave and blackout risk in Atlanta Magazine

UCL work featured in the New York Times

UCL work featured in the Wall Street Journal

Heat hits people of color the hardest -- Washington Post

Mallen interviewed for story on "heat officer" position in Miami

Radio Ecoshock Podcast featuring UCL work on heat waves and blackouts

Stone interviewed for CBS story on heat waves and blackouts

Extreme heat risks may be widely underestimated

UCL study featured in New York Times

Stone on the Daily Show: Arizona in the Grip of Climate Change

Stone interviewed for New York Magazine story on adaptation

UCL study featured in the Atlantic

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