KQED's Forum Why We Need Shade in a Warming World
Aug 11, 2025
Sam Bloch, an environmental journalist and author of 'Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource,' discusses the alarming lack of shade in urban areas like Los Angeles, where just 20% of space is shaded at noon. He argues that shade should be viewed as a basic human right, comparable to clean air. The conversation dives into the historical significance of shaded spaces, public health impacts of extreme heat, and innovative urban design solutions to create cooler environments. Bloch's insights urge communities to prioritize shade to combat climate challenges.
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Ancient Cities Built Shade Into Streets
- Ancient Mesopotamian cities used narrow streets and built form to create continuous shaded routes for pedestrians.
- Sam Bloch suggests people clustered into cities partly to escape the fierce sun and move through a continuous shadow network.
Shade Revived A Neighborhood Courtyard
- Sam Bloch found a shady courtyard in New York where neighbors returned during a heat wave.
- The shaded space hosted dominoes, children, and a revived neighborhood social life that vanished from sunlit streets.
Heat Kills More Than Storms
- Heat is the deadliest weather-related killer in the U.S., causing thousands of deaths each year.
- Sam Bloch emphasizes that heat's toll is often invisible compared with damage from storms and floods.
