BU Ecologist Lucy Hutyra Wins a 2023 MacArthur “Genius Grant”
A BU College of Arts & Sciences professor of Earth and environment, Hutyra focuses on understanding the impacts of urbanization on climate and ecosystems, studying how urban environments influence trees and the carbon cycle, and advancing knowledge on how to meet climate action and emission reduction goals. She is one of 20 fellows whose names were announced Wednesday by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Each fellow receives an $800,000 no-strings-attached “genius grant,” spread over five years.
Nearly all US mayors worry about climate change’s local effects: report
The Inflation Reduction Act marks a landmark investment in climate, featuring hundreds of billions of dollars in commitments toward transforming American energy use and emissions reductions. Local leaders are key allies in putting these dollars to work, as frontline communities are centered in its implementation. America’s mayors feel a sense of urgency to act, as their communities face real and immediate climate impacts, including drought, extreme heat, flooding, and air pollution. Just 3% of mayors say they are not concerned about any local effects of climate change.
The idea of ‘tree equity’ is taking root
Founded in 2018, Speak for the Trees has been hosting their “tree walks” to talk about the benefits of trees, and to look at where there should be more of them. It’s an issue of equity. Trees provide a wide range of benefits, from filtering out air pollution to improving mental health — but not everyone gets to feel those benefits. From neighborhood to neighborhood, or even street to street, there are often wide disparities in the number of trees, which can have a broad impact on the overall health of a community. On a local, state and national level, though, governments and nonprofits are investing to make up the gap as the concept of “tree equity” is beginning to take root.
Gendered Differences in Mobility and the Demand for Transport: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Urban Ethiopia
Inadequate transport infrastructure in growing cities can lead to congestion and decreased mobility, making it crucial to prioritise efficient and safe transportation solutions. Investigating gender-specific travel demand in Ethiopia demonstrates the value of contextually appropriate and equitable transportation policies and services for rapidly growing cities.
Tampa Bay trees tamp down harsh climate change effects
Be-leaf it or not, trees are doing some of the hardest work in Tampa Bay. Driving the news: Hillsborough and Sarasota counties ranked high in Climate Central’s recent nationwide analysis of urban trees. Why it matters: Urban tree coverage helps reduce the impacts of extreme heat, prevents stormwater runoff, mitigates air pollution exposure and can even sequester carbon, Axios’ Ayurella Horn-Muller and Simran Parwani report.
Just Environmentalism
Climate change impacts in cities do not hit every resident equally. Consider Portland, Ore. Residents of Southeast Portland’s low-income and communities of color live with the carbon and particulate matter emitted from Interstate 5, which slices through the urban core. Heat waves disproportionately threaten residents who can’t afford air conditioning or who work outdoors. Portland’s tree canopy—which mitigates climate change by capturing carbon emissions—is more concentrated in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods west of the Willamette River. Low-lying communities on the east side of the river, which are less affluent and more Black and brown, are more vulnerable to extreme impacts from storms and flooding—like the 1996 flood that killed eight people and ruined countless businesses.
In national survey, mayors say real climate change progress may fall on their residents
Mayors on both sides of the political aisle have a range of worries on climate change, and found common ground regarding potential solutions in a recent poll by the Boston University Initiative on Cities. While the majority of top city leaders want investment in environmentally friendly municipal vehicles, they also believe that if meaningful climate change progress is to happen, the onus is on “residents to make real sacrifices.”
Most U.S. mayors don’t want to ban gas stoves, leaf blowers over climate change impact, survey finds
Mayors of American cities are overwhelmingly concerned about climate change and how it will affect their city, but they are much more divided on whether to restrict the use of fossil fuels in home appliances and lawn tools such as gas stoves and leaf blowers, according to a survey of mayors conducted by the Boston University Initiative on Cities that was released last week.
Malden Plans Community Forums To Discuss Future Of Maplewood Square
Malden’s Maplewood Square area will be the subject of a series of upcoming community forums beginning next month, city officials announced last week. Kicking off on Saturday, Feb. 4, the forums are the product of Malden’s Committee on the Future of Maplewood Square. Planned forums aim to “build a consensus vision for Maplewood Square,” as noted in last week’s city announcement.
A new road map for 100% clean electricity by 2035
A new report by two major environmental groups offers the Biden administration a road map for accelerating clean energy deployment and keeping emission reduction goals within reach.