1A Seeking Shade In A Warming World
Jul 9, 2025
Sam Block, a journalist and author of 'Shade, the Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource', joins V. Kelly Turner, an urban planning expert at UCLA, to discuss the escalating threat of extreme heat. They explore how shade can be a vital resource in combating rising temperatures, especially for vulnerable urban populations. The conversation highlights the importance of urban planning that integrates green spaces, addressing inequalities in access to shade, and the need for tailored heat action plans to protect marginalized communities.
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Desperate Shade at LA Bus Stops
- Sam Block witnessed people in LA crowding in just a sliver of shade at bus stops for relief from heat.
- Many transit riders are left exposed to sun without shelters, showing the real heat struggle for vulnerable groups.
Shade’s Powerful Cooling Effect
- Shade can make a person up to 30°C cooler than in direct sunlight.
- Solar radiation dramatically influences how hot we feel beyond just air temperature.
Painful Loss of Neighborhood Trees
- Jen White remembers crying when old shade trees were cut down in her Detroit neighborhood.
- Losing those trees changed her experience of home and summers dramatically.