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The Impact of Extreme Heat on Environmental Justice Communities in California: Assessing Equity in Climate Action Plans

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The Impact of Extreme Heat on Environmental Justice Communities in California: Assessing Equity in Climate Action Plans The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Master's Projects and Capstones Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects Spring 5-2020 The Impact of Extreme Heat on Environmental Justice Communities in California: Assessing Equity in Climate Action Plans Karishma S. Becha University of San Francisco, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone Part of the Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Sustainability Commons, and the Urban Studies and Planning Commons Recommended Citation Becha, Karishma S., "The Impact of Extreme Heat on Environmental Justice Communities in California: Assessing Equity in Climate Action Plans" (2020). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1018. https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1018 This Project/Capstone is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Projects and Capstones by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This Master's Project The Impact of Extreme Heat on Environmental Justice Communities in California: Assessing Equity in Climate Action Plans by Karishma Becha is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: Master of Science in Environmental Management at the University of San Francisco Submitted: Received: ...................................……….. ................................…………. Karishma Becha Date Stephanie Siehr, Ph.D. Date Abstract Climate change projections suggest extreme heat events will be more frequent over the next few decades. Extreme heat has both negative environmental and social impacts as it affects energy security, public health by increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and stresses food and crop supply through prolonged droughts. The impacts of extreme heat will also disproportionately affect communities of low economic status. Because of this, there is a need for better climate action plans that can adapt to and mitigate the impacts brought upon by extreme heat that does not disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. This research analyzed local government Climate Action Plans of three cities in California with environmental justice communities to determine if appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures are addressed. Currently, Climate Action Plans to raise awareness of climate change impacts at a city level and provide measures to reduce risk through adaptation and mitigation measures, however, local government Climate Action Plans seldom address measures focused on socioeconomic status and inequity. Recommendations for cities to have more inclusive adaptation and mitigation measures to extreme heat include: 1) urban heat island data monitoring and measurement to collect, assess, and share demographic data on climate risk, 2) development of well-designed green retrofits and solutions for priority communities, 3) develop a heatwave early warning systems with response plans to reduce the human health consequences of heatwaves, 4) ensure all communities are educated on hazards and risks and have opportunities to engage in disaster preparedness efforts. These recommendations emphasize the importance of inclusivity and minimizing the disproportionate impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable communities. When creating local government Climate Action Plans, cities should continue to pursue innovative and inclusive solutions to the environmental and social impacts of climate change. ii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables and Figures............................................................................................................... v Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Motivation ................................................................................................................................... 4 Research Questions and Objectives ............................................................................................ 5 Overview of Key Topics ................................................................................................................. 6 Urban Resilience ......................................................................................................................... 6 Extreme Heat .............................................................................................................................. 8 Projections............................................................................................................................. 10 Impacts .................................................................................................................................. 12 Environmental Justice and Equity ............................................................................................ 18 Materials and Methods .................................................................................................................. 23 Case Study and Gap Analysis ................................................................................................... 23 Selection of Cases ................................................................................................................. 24 Metrics to Assess Community Characteristics and Vulnerability ........................................ 25 Selection of Guidance Documents ........................................................................................ 27 Comparative Analysis ............................................................................................................... 30 Case Studies .................................................................................................................................. 30 Fresno ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Community Characteristics and Vulnerability...................................................................... 30 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan ........................................................................................... 33 Gap Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 34 iii Oakland ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Community Characteristics and Vulnerability...................................................................... 35 2020 Energy and Climate Action Plan .................................................................................. 39 Gap Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 41 Los Angeles .............................................................................................................................. 43 Community Characteristics ................................................................................................... 43 L.A.’s Green New Deal ........................................................................................................ 46 Gap Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 48 Comparative Analysis ................................................................................................................... 49 Comparing Community Characteristics and Vulnerability....................................................... 49 Comparing Objectives of Guidance Documents....................................................................... 50 Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................... 52 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 52 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 53 Recommendations for Future Research ................................................................................ 58 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................. 59 iv List of Tables and Figures Figure 1. As average temperatures increase, the average temperature of "hot weather" and "record hot weather" will become even hotter (IPCC, 2001) ......................................................... 9 Figure 2. Temperatures are expected to increase given different emission scenarios (IPCC 2001) ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 3. Energy insecurity: a pathway to disease and disadvantage (Hernandez 2016) ............. 17 Figure 4. CalEnviroScreen:
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