Could urban greening mitigate suburban thermal inequity?: the role of residents’ dispositions and household practices

Abstract

Over the past decade research on urban thermal inequity has grown, with a focus on denser built\nenvironments. In this letter we examine thermal inequity associated with climate change impacts and\nchanges to urban form in a comparatively socio-economically disadvantaged Australian suburb. Local\nurban densification policies designed to counteract sprawl have reduced block sizes, increased height\nlimits, and diminished urban tree canopy cover (UTC). Little attention has been given to the combined\neffects of lowerUTCand increased heat on disadvantaged residents. Such impacts include rising\nenergy expenditure to maintain thermal comfort (i.e. cooling dwellings).We used a survey of residents\n(n=230) to determine their perceptions of climate change impacts; household energy costs;\nhousehold thermal comfort practices; and dispositions towards using green infrastructure to combat\nheat. Results suggest that while comparatively disadvantaged residents spend more on energy as a\nproportion of their income, they appear to have reduced capacity to adapt to climate change at the\nhousehold scale.Wefound most residents favoured more urban greening and supported tree planting\nin local parks and streets. Findings have implications for policy responses aimed at achieving urban\nclimate justice.