Urbanization and Climate Change: Los Angeles, California

Keywords: Climate Change, Los Angeles, California, Climate Justice
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 62

Abstract

Climate change poses substantial risks to environmental and human health, and atmospheric warming propelled by urbanization in large metropolitan cities further exacerbates these effects. Urban areas are profoundly impacted by climate change as they experience warming, yet directly contribute to the pollution that causes it. As urban areas continue to grow both in size and frequency on a global scale, there is an increasing urgency for the adaptation of sustainability measures and mitigation efforts on regional scales. Spatial and temporal variables within cities affect warming and cooling patterns that disproportionately impact some regions more than others. The Mediterranean climate of the city of Los Angeles makes it particularly susceptible to heat impacts from climate change, while its diverse topography forms unique microclimates resulting in different regional heating and cooling patterns. Heat-induced events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent in LA, where studies have identified the greatest risks to vulnerable populations (such as low-income and elderly). As temperatures rise so do mortality and morbidity rates, in addition to causing food insecurity and the resurgence of communicable diseases as they get more extreme. A person’s socioeconomic status determines where they live and work, exposing them to risks from interactions between environmental elements and urban land use. The unequal distribution of environmental burdens disproportionately increases environmental risks for vulnerable and marginalized populations, raising environmental justice concerns. Health risks from climate change are strongly influenced by intersecting spatial relationships between socioeconomic factors, environmental vulnerabilities, and urban land use.