Empowering Community Action: How Data is Transforming Climate and Health Initiatives | EDF Health

5 Key Insights from New York Climate Week

By Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President, Healthy Communities, EDF, Dr. Arnab Ghosh, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Stefanie Le, Writer, Data Smart Cities

Extreme weather isn’t just a future concern—it’s happening now. According to NASA, the U.S. experienced double the usual number of severe weather events last year compared to previous years. More intense storms, longer heat waves, and faster-spreading wildfires are becoming the norm.

At New York Climate Week, city leaders, university experts, and health officials came together to explore how data can help communities protect themselves. They discussed how valuable information can lead to better climate solutions. Here are five key insights:

1. Data Drives Solutions

Mount Vernon’s Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard highlighted a significant finding: the north side of her city, with its tree-lined streets, is about 7 degrees cooler than the south side. This temperature difference results in higher rates of asthma and increased utility expenses for residents living in hotter areas. “We can’t ignore climate issues because we face them daily,” she said.

2. Adaptation and Mitigation Go Hand-in-Hand

Detroit has over 124,000 vacant lots, but instead of seeing them as a problem, they’re turning them into urban farms. Trisha Stein, Detroit’s Chief Strategy Officer, emphasized the dual focus on adapting to climate change while also improving the community’s health: “We need to protect vulnerable populations and stabilize neighborhoods,” she said. This approach could potentially generate $23 million in health benefits.

3. Climate and Health Are Personal Issues

Savannah’s Mayor Van Johnson pointed out the threat of intense storms, stating that 70% of severe storms have hit since 2015. He warned, “If a Category 3 hurricane strikes, most of Savannah could be underwater.” This reality makes climate change a personal and urgent issue for many communities.

4. Experiences Shape Effective Policies

Margot Brown from EDF noted that climate change acts as a “threat multiplier.” It doesn’t just create new problems; it worsens existing ones, especially for those already facing challenges like poverty or racism. “That’s both unfair and avoidable,” she said, stressing the need for inclusive policies.

5. Climate Events Dictate Leadership Challenges

Representative Maxine Dexter from Oregon recalled the 2020 wildfires that devastated over a million acres. The smoke affected people well beyond the fire zones. “We must act urgently,” she emphasized, pointing out how wildfire impacts reach far and wide, affecting both firefighters and residents.

In conclusion, the takeaway from New York Climate Week is clear: data and science must guide climate policies. As Representative Dexter noted, “We need to rely on science to inform policy decisions. Citizens should push for more investment in research.” This focus on actionable data can lead to sustainable solutions for all communities.

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