While heat is the leading cause of weather-related illnesses and deaths in both Canada and the US, companies can explore nature-based solutions to help reverse this trend and foster spaces where people can thrive. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2023 was the warmest year on record, recognizing many significant climate events. In Canada, communities were devastated by record-breaking heat. Dense urban environments, along with outdoor workers, are disproportionally affected by extreme heat. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related illnesses and deaths in both Canada and the United States. While this data is troubling, companies can explore nature-based solutions to help reverse this trend and foster spaces where people can thrive. Green spaces and trees can help counteract the causes and consequences of excessive urban heat. In fact, national collaborative projects such as the NOAA Urban Heat Island mapping campaign assess some of the hottest neighborhoods to help inform cooling strategies such as tree planting. Urban forests provide a wide range of benefits for human health and wellness. Although our understanding of the positive effects of trees on people continues to grow, studies show that trees reduce the urban heat island effect and promote thermal comfort. Open-source tools such as American Forests’ Tree Equity Score National Map document how communities of color experience an average of 33 percent less tree canopy (and its life-saving benefits) - which can help organizations identify where trees are needed based on metrics such as surface temperature, community health and socio-demographic composition. Privately owned land can represent up to 80 percent of urban forests in communities. For example, in the City of Toronto, Canada, 55 percent of its urban forest is owned and managed by private landowners. While districts and municipalities contribute significantly to planting and... |