The Deadly Impact of Extreme Heat on Communities of Color in Big Cities

Extreme Heat Disproportionately Affects People of Color and Low-Income Residents in Big Cities

As temperatures soar across the country, the scorching truth is that extreme heat can be a matter of life and death, especially for people of color and low-income residents in big cities like New York. In neighborhoods like Mott Haven in the South Bronx, where more than 90 percent of residents are Latino or Black, the heat hits hardest, with temperatures reaching 8 degrees higher than in wealthier, majority-white neighborhoods just a mile away.

The impact of extreme heat goes beyond discomfort, as it is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities nationwide, claiming an average of 350 lives in New York City alone each year. The inequality in heat-related deaths is stark, with Black residents dying from heat stress at double the rate of white residents in the city.

This disparity can be traced back to decades of discriminatory housing policies like redlining, which restricted resources in minority neighborhoods and deprived them of green spaces and trees. Today, these historically redlined neighborhoods are the most vulnerable to heat-related deaths due to the urban heat island effect, where heavily paved areas trap more heat.

To combat the rising temperatures, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has activated the city’s heat emergency plan, designating cooling centers and distributing cool kits to help residents cope with the heat. However, for many low-income residents with limited mobility, accessing these resources may not be feasible, leaving them at greater risk.

As extreme heat becomes the new normal, experts warn that the heat waves of the future will be even more severe. It is crucial to address the environmental racism and inequality that exacerbate the impact of extreme heat on marginalized communities and invest in solutions like planting more trees and creating green spaces to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures.