Urban Heat, Vulnerability, and the Public Realm: Lessons from Tel Aviv-Yafo and Implications for COVID-19 Recovery
Keywords:
Urban Planning and Design, Climate Adaptation, Community Engaged Design, Vulnerability Analysis
Abstract
Climate change is leaving Tel Aviv-Yafo hotter and drier. A hotter climate means more energy to cool buildings, more people staying indoors or in cars, and vulnerable people becoming sick from heat exposure. In some neighborhoods, streets were designed to channel sea air through open boulevards while green spaces provide needed shade. But in other neighborhoods, the streets are dense, narrow, with limited vegetation or green spaces, and communities on the social margins typically have fewer resources to adapt. In the first part of this paper, we discuss the case of The Resilience Accelerator in Tel Aviv-Yafo, a program of the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes which supports community-based and local government actions towards climate resilience project implementation with multi-disciplinary and sectoral engagements. This process engaged a spatial heat vulnerability analysis to prioritize areas of the city most physically exposed and socially sensitive to heat impacts. Then, it brought together stakeholders from across disciplines, sectors, and scales to design projects that mitigate heat impacts and also create a vibrant and accessible public realm in the Shapira neighborhood. Soon after the conclusion of the Accelerator, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and decision-makers at all levels of government worldwide have faced unprecedented challenges in not only responding to the imminent public health crises, but also the compounding vulnerabilities and hazards related to climate risk in the most vulnerable communities. So, in the second part of this paper, we reflect on how the pandemic has shed new light on the intersections of risk and areas of future investigation to further unpack the role of the urban planner and designer in constructing and deconstructing oppression and vulnerability.
References
Butchiredygari, L. (June 24, 2019) Heat waves precipitate more crime in poor areas, study in L.A. finds. Wall Street Journal. https://www.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/c4u4am/heat_waves_precipitate_more_crime_in_poor_areas/
Chapman, L., Azevedo, J., Prieto-Lopez, T. (2013) Urban heat and critical infrastructure networks: A viewpoint. Urban Climate, 3: 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2013.04.001
Cobbs, C. (May 15, 2020) How Montreal, Milan, and D.C. have made more space for walk/bike/transit during COVID-19. https://chi.streetsblog.org/2020/05/15/how-montreal-milan-and-d-c-have-made-more-space-for-walk-bike-transit-during-covid/
Cho, R,Morse C., Mitchel, S. Cho, S-R., Baier, G. Ashkin, M. (2017) How Climate Change Affects New York's Plants and Animals. https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2017/01/06/how-climate-change-is-affecting-new-yorks-plants-and-animals/
Exkert, N. (September 4, 2019) How high heat can impact mental health. National Public Radio, Morning Edition. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/04/757034136/how-high-heat-can-impact-mental-health
Gerrard, M. (2016) Heat Waves: Legal Adaptation to the Most Lethal Climate Disaster. Columbia University Climate Law. UA Little Rock Law Review, Volume 40:15-544. http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/files/2016/09/6-Gerrard-formatted-embedded.pdf
Green, MS., Groag-Pri Or, N., Capuleto, G., Epstein, Y. and Paz, S. (2013) Climate change and health in Israel: Adaptation policies for extreme weather events. Isr J. Health Policy Res., Jun 27;2(1):23. doi: 10.1186/2045-4015-2-23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23805950#
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) Climate Change 2007 - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Working Group 2, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Staff.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019) Economy: Sectors of Israeli Economy. https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/economy/pages/economy-%20sectors%20of%20the%20economy.aspx
Klein-Rosenthal, J. and Raven, J. ( 2017) Urban Heat and Urban Design – An Opportunity to Transform in NYC. The Sallan Foundation, Snapshot. https://www.sallan.org/Snapshot/2017/07/ urban_heat_and_urban_design_an_opportunity_to_transform_in_nyc.php#.XeVbKEZKiUm
Klinenberg, E. (2002) Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Kloosterman, K. (July 17, 2020). Tel Aviv Makes COVID-Friendly Breathing Sidewalks. Green Prophet. https://www.greenprophet.com/2020/07/tel-aviv-makes-covid-friendly-breathing-sidewalks/
Landsberg, H. (1981) The Urban Climate, Volume 28, 1st Edition. Elsevier Academic Press.
Laris, M. (2020) Cities, including D.C, are closing streets to make way for restaurants and pedestrians. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/cities-are-closing-streets-to-make-way-for-restaurants-and-pedestrians/2020/05/25/1f1af634-9b73-11ea-ad09-8da7ec214672_story.html
Low Carbon Living, CRC (2017) Guide to Urban Cooling Strategies. http://www.lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/sites/all/files/publications_file_attachments/rp2024_guide_to_urban_cooling_strategies_2017_web.pdf
Mayo Clinic (2020.) COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms? https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-who-is-at-risk/art-20483301
NASA (2015) NEX Global Daily Downscaled Climate Projections 2015. Available from: https://nex.nasa.gov/nex/projects/1356/.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2019) July 2019 was the hottest month on record for the planet. M https://www.noaa.gov/news/july-2019-was-hottest-month-on-record-for-planet
Novikov, I., Kalter-Leibovici, O., Chetrit, A., Stav, N. & Epstein, Y. (2011) Weather conditions and visits to the medical wing of emergency rooms in a metropolitan area during the warm season in Israel: A predictive model. International Journal of Biometeorology 56:121-7. 10.1007/s00484-011-0403-z.
Peleg, B. and Shpigel, N. (April, 2020). Two Die in Flooded Elevator in Tel Aviv as Heavy Storms Hit Israel. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-two-die-in-flooded-elevator-in-tel-aviv-as-heavy-storms-hit-israel-1.8352992
Schnell, I. and Harpaz, M. (2005) A model of a heterogeneous neighborhood. GeoJournal, 64:105-115. DOI: 10.1007/s10708-005-4093-0
Sela, M. (2009) Tel Avi’vs Forgotten Neighborhood. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/1.5055167
Shepherd, M. (June 20, 2017) The science of why it’s too hot for some planes to fly in the southwest US. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2017/06/20/the-science-of-why-its-too-hot-for-some-planes-to-fly-in-the-southwest-u-s/#2827b12f54ce
State of Israel, Central Bureau of Statistics (2017) Household income and expenditure data from the Household Expenditure Survey, 2017 General Summaries. https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/DocLib/2019/households17_1755/h_print.pdf
Trilnick, I.(July 10, 2012) Israel electric will send brownout alerts by sms, online. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/cutting-remarks-israel-electric-will-send-brownout-alerts-by-sms-online-1.5265428
Trust for Public Land (2016) The benefits of green infrastructure for heat mitigation and emissions reductions in cities. Climate-Smart Cities ™. https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20GI%20for%20heat%20mitigation%20and%20emissions%20reductions%20in%20cities.pdf
Urban Land Institute (2019) Scorched: Extreme Heat and Real Estate. https://americas.uli.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ULI-Documents/Scorched_Final-PDF.pdf
Vinyeta, K., Powys Whyte, K. and Lynn, K. (2015) Climate Change Through an Intersectional Lens: Gendered Vulnerability and Resilience in Indigenous Communities in the United States.” United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr923.pdf
Wichter, Z. (June 20, 2017) Too hot to fly? Climate change may take a toll on air travel. NewYork Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/business/flying-climate-change.html
Yosef, Y., Aguilar, E. and Alpert, P. (2019) Changes in extreme temperature and precipitation indices: Using an innovative daily homogenized database in Israel. Int J Climatol., 39:5022–5045. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.6125
Chapman, L., Azevedo, J., Prieto-Lopez, T. (2013) Urban heat and critical infrastructure networks: A viewpoint. Urban Climate, 3: 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2013.04.001
Cobbs, C. (May 15, 2020) How Montreal, Milan, and D.C. have made more space for walk/bike/transit during COVID-19. https://chi.streetsblog.org/2020/05/15/how-montreal-milan-and-d-c-have-made-more-space-for-walk-bike-transit-during-covid/
Cho, R,Morse C., Mitchel, S. Cho, S-R., Baier, G. Ashkin, M. (2017) How Climate Change Affects New York's Plants and Animals. https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2017/01/06/how-climate-change-is-affecting-new-yorks-plants-and-animals/
Exkert, N. (September 4, 2019) How high heat can impact mental health. National Public Radio, Morning Edition. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/04/757034136/how-high-heat-can-impact-mental-health
Gerrard, M. (2016) Heat Waves: Legal Adaptation to the Most Lethal Climate Disaster. Columbia University Climate Law. UA Little Rock Law Review, Volume 40:15-544. http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/files/2016/09/6-Gerrard-formatted-embedded.pdf
Green, MS., Groag-Pri Or, N., Capuleto, G., Epstein, Y. and Paz, S. (2013) Climate change and health in Israel: Adaptation policies for extreme weather events. Isr J. Health Policy Res., Jun 27;2(1):23. doi: 10.1186/2045-4015-2-23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23805950#
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) Climate Change 2007 - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Working Group 2, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Staff.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019) Economy: Sectors of Israeli Economy. https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/economy/pages/economy-%20sectors%20of%20the%20economy.aspx
Klein-Rosenthal, J. and Raven, J. ( 2017) Urban Heat and Urban Design – An Opportunity to Transform in NYC. The Sallan Foundation, Snapshot. https://www.sallan.org/Snapshot/2017/07/ urban_heat_and_urban_design_an_opportunity_to_transform_in_nyc.php#.XeVbKEZKiUm
Klinenberg, E. (2002) Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Kloosterman, K. (July 17, 2020). Tel Aviv Makes COVID-Friendly Breathing Sidewalks. Green Prophet. https://www.greenprophet.com/2020/07/tel-aviv-makes-covid-friendly-breathing-sidewalks/
Landsberg, H. (1981) The Urban Climate, Volume 28, 1st Edition. Elsevier Academic Press.
Laris, M. (2020) Cities, including D.C, are closing streets to make way for restaurants and pedestrians. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/cities-are-closing-streets-to-make-way-for-restaurants-and-pedestrians/2020/05/25/1f1af634-9b73-11ea-ad09-8da7ec214672_story.html
Low Carbon Living, CRC (2017) Guide to Urban Cooling Strategies. http://www.lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/sites/all/files/publications_file_attachments/rp2024_guide_to_urban_cooling_strategies_2017_web.pdf
Mayo Clinic (2020.) COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms? https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-who-is-at-risk/art-20483301
NASA (2015) NEX Global Daily Downscaled Climate Projections 2015. Available from: https://nex.nasa.gov/nex/projects/1356/.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2019) July 2019 was the hottest month on record for the planet. M https://www.noaa.gov/news/july-2019-was-hottest-month-on-record-for-planet
Novikov, I., Kalter-Leibovici, O., Chetrit, A., Stav, N. & Epstein, Y. (2011) Weather conditions and visits to the medical wing of emergency rooms in a metropolitan area during the warm season in Israel: A predictive model. International Journal of Biometeorology 56:121-7. 10.1007/s00484-011-0403-z.
Peleg, B. and Shpigel, N. (April, 2020). Two Die in Flooded Elevator in Tel Aviv as Heavy Storms Hit Israel. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-two-die-in-flooded-elevator-in-tel-aviv-as-heavy-storms-hit-israel-1.8352992
Schnell, I. and Harpaz, M. (2005) A model of a heterogeneous neighborhood. GeoJournal, 64:105-115. DOI: 10.1007/s10708-005-4093-0
Sela, M. (2009) Tel Avi’vs Forgotten Neighborhood. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/1.5055167
Shepherd, M. (June 20, 2017) The science of why it’s too hot for some planes to fly in the southwest US. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2017/06/20/the-science-of-why-its-too-hot-for-some-planes-to-fly-in-the-southwest-u-s/#2827b12f54ce
State of Israel, Central Bureau of Statistics (2017) Household income and expenditure data from the Household Expenditure Survey, 2017 General Summaries. https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/DocLib/2019/households17_1755/h_print.pdf
Trilnick, I.(July 10, 2012) Israel electric will send brownout alerts by sms, online. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/cutting-remarks-israel-electric-will-send-brownout-alerts-by-sms-online-1.5265428
Trust for Public Land (2016) The benefits of green infrastructure for heat mitigation and emissions reductions in cities. Climate-Smart Cities ™. https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20GI%20for%20heat%20mitigation%20and%20emissions%20reductions%20in%20cities.pdf
Urban Land Institute (2019) Scorched: Extreme Heat and Real Estate. https://americas.uli.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ULI-Documents/Scorched_Final-PDF.pdf
Vinyeta, K., Powys Whyte, K. and Lynn, K. (2015) Climate Change Through an Intersectional Lens: Gendered Vulnerability and Resilience in Indigenous Communities in the United States.” United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr923.pdf
Wichter, Z. (June 20, 2017) Too hot to fly? Climate change may take a toll on air travel. NewYork Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/20/business/flying-climate-change.html
Yosef, Y., Aguilar, E. and Alpert, P. (2019) Changes in extreme temperature and precipitation indices: Using an innovative daily homogenized database in Israel. Int J Climatol., 39:5022–5045. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.6125
Published
2021-03-26
Section
Articles
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The contributor(s) (authors) warrant that the entire work is original and unpublished; it is submitted only to this Journal and all text, data, figures/tables or other illustrations included in this work are completely original and unpublished, and these have not been previously published or submitted elsewhere in any form or media whatsoever.
- The contributor(s) warrant that the work contains no unlawful or libelous statements and opinions and liable materials of any kind whatsoever, does not infringe on any copyrights, intellectual property rights, personal rights or rights of any kind of others, nor contains any plagiarized, fraudulent, improperly attributed materials, instructions, procedures, information or ideas that might cause any harm, damage, injury, losses or costs of any kind to person or property.
- The contributor(s) retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- The contributor(s) are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- The contributor(s) are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
- Geography Research Forum may disseminate the content of the publications and publications’ Meta data in text, image, or other print and electronic formats to providers of research databases (e.g. EBSCO, GeoBase, JSTOR) to facilitate publications' exposure.
