Understanding the Impact of Extreme Heat on Latino Communities: A Closer Look at Disparities and Solutions

Scorching hot days can hit some neighborhoods much harder than others. Recently, parts of the US faced extreme heat, and a new online tool highlights how Latino communities in California are particularly affected.

The Latino Climate & Health Dashboard, created by UCLA, aims to fill the gaps left by recent cuts to important climate data. Arturo Vargas Bustamante from UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute emphasizes the need for reliable facts, saying, “We don’t want this to be something that gets erased.”

This dashboard offers insights into extreme heat, air pollution, and health issues like asthma. High temperatures can worsen air quality, which in turn can lead to a rise in asthma cases. Chronic exposure to pollution can make respiratory problems worse, especially in neighborhoods that burn fossil fuels for power and transportation.

According to the dashboard, Latino neighborhoods in California endure about 23 additional days of extreme heat each year compared to non-Latino white neighborhoods. This means they experience temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher more frequently.

A key factor behind these disparities is the urban heat island effect. Areas with less greenery and more concrete tend to trap heat. A recent study showed that about one in ten Americans lives in places where temperatures can be at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit hotter due to urban development. Historically, practices like redlining have led to greater heat exposure in neighborhoods predominantly housing people of color.

The dashboard provides detailed data, including that only 4% of land in majority-Latino areas of Los Angeles is shaded by trees, compared to 9% in non-Latino white areas. Conversely, urban surfaces that retain heat, like asphalt, cover 68% of Latino neighborhoods, compared to 47% in others.

Moreover, Latino neighborhoods face double the air pollution and asthma-related emergency visits than non-Latino white neighborhoods. The dashboard combines various sources, including the Census Bureau and California’s CalEnviroScreen, to create its data sets.

The importance of local data is heightened since the previous federal tool, EJScreen, was removed during the Trump administration. This has prompted researchers to develop alternative initiatives to keep essential data accessible amid ongoing environmental rollbacks.

Efforts to document and understand these disparities are critical. They can help target initiatives like tree planting where they are most needed or guide public health efforts to ensure communities have access to cooling during heatwaves.

By offering insights into climate and health, this dashboard aims to keep key issues front and center, providing a vital resource for community advocates and policymakers alike.



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