Phoenix plants trees and builds shade to fight extreme heat
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Phoenix, Arizona, is investing $60 million in its five-year Shade Phoenix Plan to address rising temperatures and protect its residents.
Greg Kats, founder of the Smart Surfaces Coalition, assisted in developing the strategy, which focuses on adding 27,000 trees and 550 shade structures throughout the city. City leaders are prioritizing lower-income neighborhoods, where limited tree cover worsens the effects of extreme heat and temperatures can be 10 to 12 degrees higher than in wealthier areas.
Kats explained that a broader approach using “smart surfaces”, reflective, porous, and green infrastructure, is essential. Dark surfaces like asphalt absorb a high percentage of sunlight, reaching temperatures as high as 160 degrees Fahrenheit and causing burns. By incorporating these strategies, Phoenix aims to lower overall city temperatures by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce heat in low-income areas by up to 4.6 degrees.
The plan extends beyond trees and shade structures to include reflective roofs, lighter-colored roads, and porous surfaces that allow rainwater to soak into the ground. Officials estimate these changes could save the city approximately $3 billion over the coming decades, reduce energy bills by $6,000 per household, and improve air quality. Phoenix joins other cities worldwide in adopting similar measures to make urban areas more livable in the face of increasing global temperatures.
