Abstract
Over the past decade research on urban thermal inequity has grown, with a focus on denser built environments. In this letter we examine thermal inequity associated with climate change impacts and changes to urban form in a comparatively socio-economically disadvantaged Australian suburb. Local urban densification policies designed to counteract sprawl have reduced block sizes, increased height limits, and diminished urban tree canopy cover (UTC). Little attention has been given to the combined effects of lower UTC and increased heat on disadvantaged residents. Such impacts include rising energy expenditure to maintain thermal comfort (i.e. cooling dwellings). We used a survey of residents (n = 230) to determine their perceptions of climate change impacts; household energy costs; household thermal comfort practices; and dispositions towards using green infrastructure to combat heat. Results suggest that while comparatively disadvantaged residents spend more on energy as a proportion of their income, they appear to have reduced capacity to adapt to climate change at the household scale. We found most residents favoured more urban greening and supported tree planting in local parks and streets. Findings have implications for policy responses aimed at achieving urban climate justice.
Highlights
Global patterns of urbanisation have concentrated people in cities (Seto et al 2010, Roberts 2011, Chen et al 2014) at a time of escalating climate change, with heatwaves increasingly impacting many cities across the planet (Mcgeehin and Mirabelli 2001, Tong et al 2014, Vardoulakis et al 2014)
Three objectives informed the research: (i) to determine if a comparatively socio-economically disadvantaged population in a suburban environment with low urban tree canopy cover may be inequitably exposed to heat; (ii) to determine if this population is disproportionately impacted by energy costs and has less capacity to adapt; and (iii) to determine if this population is favourably disposed towards using green infrastructure to mitigate heat exposure
We examined residents’ awareness of climate change impacts and perceived efficacy of various responses, energy use, thermal comfort and disposition towards green infrastructure
Summary
In this letter we examine thermal inequity associated with climate change impacts and changes to urban form in a comparatively socio-economically disadvantaged Australian suburb. Little attention has been given to the combined effects of lower UTC and increased heat on disadvantaged residents. Such impacts include rising energy expenditure to maintain thermal comfort (i.e. cooling dwellings). We used a survey of residents (n = 230) to determine their perceptions of climate change impacts; household energy costs; household thermal comfort practices; and dispositions towards using green infrastructure to combat heat. Findings have implications for policy responses aimed at achieving urban climate justice
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