People in urban areas are at higher risk during heat waves, but NASA data shows...

NASA Climate Change 1 year ago

People in urban areas are at higher risk during heat waves, but NASA data shows how parks and green spaces are cooler than the surrounding areas. This image shows how asphalt and concrete trap heat. The purple and red areas are surfaces that are hotter than 130℉ (54℃). Yellow areas are slightly cooler but still very hot. Some roads and sidewalks got so hot that a few seconds of skin contact could result in second degree burns. This image shows mid-day conditions in Phoenix, AZ on June 19, 2024. It was measured by a NASA instrument called ECOSTRESS, which is aboard the @iss. Data from Landsat and Sentinel-2 helped improve the resolution so that differences can be seen across a smaller area. Information like this can help people and communities plan ways to stay safer in the heat. Image Descriptions: 1: Text reads “Urban Heat Seen From Space” in white at the center of the image with a yellow, red, and purple bar underneath. In the background is a map of urban heat risk in Phoenix. 2: A map of the Phoenix area, where asphalt and concrete surfaces are outlined in yellow, red, or purple lines depending on the surface temperature. Purple represents the hottest. The left side of the image is mostly purple and the right side is mostly red. Several park areas and green spaces have yellow (cooler) surface temperatures. A key at the bottom of the image correlates color to surface temperature and thermal burn risk. 3: The same map of the Phoenix area, but zoomed in over Encanto to highlight areas around green spaces, which are mostly yellow. #Earth #NASA #Climate #Data #Heat #Science

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 12 hours ago



A recent survey shows that most large businesses are failing to incorporate climate risks into new construction projects. This exposes developments to flood and extreme weather damage while undermining efforts to reach net zero Whole Life Carbon. Insurers are increasingly pressing for resilience planning, and the lack of a Whole Life Carbon Assessment in early project stages leaves significant risks unaddressed. Developers treating Embodied Carbon as a marginal issue face higher long-term costs rather than true Life Cycle Cost control.

Institutional capital is rapidly shifting towards sustainable construction, moving beyond climate risk debates to fund resilience and low carbon design. This trend is unlocking investment in sustainable building design and net zero carbon buildings, aligning financial flows with environmental sustainability in construction. For developers, demonstrating life cycle thinking in construction and proving reduced Embodied Carbon in materials is becoming critical to accessing large-scale finance.

The University of Derby has launched the Institute of Carbonomics to advance research in reducing emissions across industries. While broader in scope, the initiative is set to influence eco-design for buildings and sustainable architecture, embedding lifecycle assessment and sustainable building practices into commercial decision-making. Its outputs are expected to shape climate-smart construction by linking resource efficiency in construction to Whole Life Carbon reduction strategies.

Private investment momentum is also growing. Gresham House’s acquisition of clean energy investor SUSI Partners increases its capacity to fund green infrastructure, net zero carbon projects, and Circular Economy in construction approaches. This creates deeper capital pools for low carbon building technologies and renewable building materials, enabling more developers to pursue carbon neutral construction without prohibitive upfront costs.

Consumer demand reinforces this momentum. Rising energy costs are driving homeowners towards energy-efficient buildings and eco-friendly construction upgrades, accelerating adoption of green building products and smart retrofitting. For construction firms, this highlights a profitable pathway where sustainable building practices align with direct financial savings, embedding sustainable material specification as a market-driven necessity.

The “Nature in Contracts” initiative, supported by the UK Green Building Council, signals growing attention to biodiversity and the environmental impact of construction within procurement frameworks. By embedding nature-positive clauses, developers are being pushed towards circular construction strategies, sustainable urban development, and environmental product declarations (EPDs). This integration signals a future where green construction becomes inseparable from legal and financial compliance, sharpening the focus on Embodied Carbon in materials and building lifecycle performance.

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