How is climate change affecting Phoenix?
Though we are a desert city in which heat is a part of life, climate change is making Phoenix summers drier and more intense. According to data collected by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the average local summer temperature has increased by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit over the past half-century. Every summer, we shatter new temperature records. While the desert naturally cools itself in the evening, roads and other infrastructure have created an urban heat island effect that results in higher nighttime temperatures, giving plants, animals, and people little relief from the hot summer days.
What action are you taking to address climate change?
Beyond committing to decarbonization efforts across the board to mitigate our contributions to climate change, we're implementing , a robust adaptation plan to increase both trees and constructed shade structures. In our arid, low-humidity climate, shade provides significant relief for our residents and visitors. Shade Phoenix outlines 36 actions that will result in 27,000 new native and drought-tolerant trees and 550 new shade structures in the next five years. The strategies are designed to achieve maximum impact, using data and resident input to inform priority locations and corridors to best serve pedestrians and transit users. More than half of the total shade investment will be made in low- to moderate-income communities, and 85 per cent will be made in low- to moderate- and middle-income communities.
What are the benefits? Why is it important?
As temperatures are predicted to continue to intensify in Phoenix and around the world, we must continuously improve how we design urban areas to protect people from the dangers of heat. We know that shade is one of the most effective strategies to create cooler, more comfortable spaces to protect public health and improve quality of life overall. Research shows the reduction in the net heat burden on the human body that can be achieved with shade can be as high as 70 degrees Fahrenheit. As we prepare for a hotter future, we¡¯re integrating shade into everyday life, whether incorporating it into public art installations or play areas in schoolyards and parks. Additionally, beyond providing important public health benefits, shade beautifies neighborhoods, raises property values, and makes walking, biking, and recreational activities more enjoyable.
