More than half of the global population and about 80% of the U.S. population lives in cities — and faces higher heat risks.
The entire planet is warming due to human-caused climate change, but the built environment further amplifies both average temperatures and extreme heat in cities.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “the urban heat island effect is a measurable increase in ambient urban air temperatures resulting primarily from the replacement of vegetation with buildings, roads, and other heat-absorbing infrastructure. The heat island effect can result in significant temperature differences between rural and urban areas.”
REPOSTED FROM CLIMATECENTRAL.ORG – READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
