The urban heat island effect can raise temperatures in city neighborhoods by more than 7 degrees Fahrenheit, hitting the hottest, poorest neighborhoods the hardest. Heat waves are the deadliest extreme weather event in cities, with Black residents dying from heat stress at double the rate of white residents.
Trees play a crucial role in mitigating the urban heat island effect by providing shade and allowing evapotranspiration, cooling the surrounding air. A study in NYC found that species is the most important factor in determining street tree growth rates.
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