{"id":1763,"date":"2024-07-11T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T15:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?p=1763"},"modified":"2024-09-13T12:16:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T19:16:35","slug":"a-tale-of-two-climates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/","title":{"rendered":"As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  (Photographs: Tiffany Luong.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  In a county reft by heat, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Tomas Weber<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">July 11, 2024<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 1.058837 1.0874543 2.51831502 1.6884158 4.03502747 1.6884158 1.44087681 0 2.80427251-.5423678 3.86936601-1.5289606l.1656615-.1594552 2.2321428-2.2321428-1.6311813-1.6311813-2.2321429 2.26076c-.6581959.658196-1.5167124 1.0016026-2.43246332 1.0016026s-1.7742674-.3434066-2.43246337-1.0016026c-.65819597-.6581959-1.00160257-1.5167124-1.00160257-2.4324633 0-.8547009.2991453-1.6595442.87416905-2.2981957l.12743352-.1342677 2.23214286-2.2321429zm6.88661855-.40736607-5.26116068 5.26116075 1.61881868 1.6188186 5.2611607-5.2611607zm1.3837569-5.54501488c-1.4408768 0-2.8042725.54236779-3.869366 1.52896062l-.1656615.15945513-2.23214282 2.23214286 1.63118132 1.63118132 2.2321429-2.23214286c.6581959-.65819597 1.5167124-1.00160256 2.4324633-1.00160256s1.7742674.34340659 2.4324634 1.00160256 1.0016026 1.51671246 1.0016026 2.43246337c0 .85470089-.2991453 1.65954419-.8741691 2.29819559l-.1274335.1342678-2.2321429 2.2321428 1.5739469 1.5739469 2.2321429-2.2321428c1.0874542-1.058837 1.6884157-2.5183151 1.6884157-4.03502751 0-1.51671245-.6009615-2.94757326-1.6884157-4.03502747-1.058837-1.08745421-2.518315-1.68841575-4.0350275-1.68841575z\" transform=\"translate(-3 -3)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Copy Link<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Facebook\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_facebook\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m23.9512 6h-16.9024c-.57923625 0-1.0488.46956375-1.0488 1.0488v16.9024c0 .5792362.46956375 1.0488 1.0488 1.0488h9.10024v-7.34768h-2.46772v-2.87584h2.46772v-2.11508c0-2.45404 1.49872-3.79012 3.68828-3.79012.7389668-.00263323 1.4775241.03516995 2.21236.11324v2.56348h-1.51392c-1.18788 0-1.4174.56544-1.4174 1.39612v1.8316h2.84772l-.37088 2.87584h-2.47684v7.34844h4.83284c.5792362 0 1.0488-.4695638 1.0488-1.0488v-16.9024c0-.57923625-.4695638-1.0488-1.0488-1.0488z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Facebook<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#twitter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"X\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_twitter\">\n              <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\"\n\t y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 30 30\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 30 30\" xml:space=\"preserve\" width=\"19\" height=\"19\">\n<path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14.5,16.2l-0.8-1.1l-6.3-9h2.7l5.1,7.3l0.8,1.1\n\tl6.6,9.4h-2.7L14.5,16.2L14.5,16.2z M16.9,13.4l7.4-8.7h-1.8l-6.5,7.5L11,4.8H5l7.8,11.4L5,25.2h1.8l6.8-7.9l5.5,7.9h6L16.9,13.4\n\tL16.9,13.4z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">X<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Linkedin\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_linkedin\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m25 21.4220779c0 1.974026-1.6038961 3.5779221-3.5779221 3.5779221h-11.84415582c-1.97402598 0-3.57792208-1.6038961-3.57792208-3.5779221v-11.84415582c0-1.97402598 1.6038961-3.57792208 3.57792208-3.57792208h11.84415582c1.974026 0 3.5779221 1.6038961 3.5779221 3.57792208zm-14.5584416-12.21428569c-.98701295 0-1.60389606.61688311-1.60389606 1.48051949-.12337663.8636364.49350649 1.4805195 1.48051946 1.4805195.987013 0 1.6038961-.6168831 1.6038961-1.4805195 0-.86363638-.6168831-1.48051949-1.4805195-1.48051949zm1.3571429 12.70779219v-8.6363636h-2.83766234v8.6363636zm10.2402597 0v-4.9350649c0-2.5909091-1.3571428-3.8246753-3.3311688-3.8246753-1.4805195 0-2.0974026.8636363-2.4675325 1.4805194v-1.2337662h-2.8376623v8.6363636h2.8376623v-4.9350649c0-.2467532 0-.4935065.1233767-.7402597.1233766-.4935065.6168831-.987013 1.4805194-.987013.987013 0 1.4805195.7402597 1.4805195 1.974026v4.564935z\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">LinkedIn<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_bluesky\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#bluesky\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Bluesky\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_bluesky\">\n              <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path fill=\"#00000\" d=\"M12 10.8c-1.087-2.114-4.046-6.053-6.798-7.995C2.566.944 1.561 1.266.902 1.565C.139 1.908 0 3.08 0 3.768c0 .69.378 5.65.624 6.479c.815 2.736 3.713 3.66 6.383 3.364c.136-.02.275-.039.415-.056c-.138.022-.276.04-.415.056c-3.912.58-7.387 2.005-2.83 7.078c5.013 5.19 6.87-1.113 7.823-4.308c.953 3.195 2.05 9.271 7.733 4.308c4.267-4.308 1.172-6.498-2.74-7.078a8.741 8.741 0 0 1-.415-.056c.14.017.279.036.415.056c2.67.297 5.568-.628 6.383-3.364c.246-.828.624-5.79.624-6.478c0-.69-.139-1.861-.902-2.206c-.659-.298-1.664-.62-4.3 1.24C16.046 4.748 13.087 8.687 12 10.8\"  fill-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n              <\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Bluesky<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_email\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"E-mail\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_print\">\n              <svg height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 12\" width=\"18\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.usc.edu\/assignment-earth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-2309 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon-150x150.png\" alt=\"Words Asgmt Earth in a black circle and USC in a small white circle inside a gold square\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon-320x320.png 320w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Assignment-Earth_icon.png 1250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In Southern California, heat divides communities not by mere degrees \u2014 it creates different worlds. Here, in this region known for some of the nation\u2019s most extreme temperatures, the experience of a hot day can vary dramatically from one neighborhood to another. Consider a summer afternoon in affluent, predominantly white, tree-lined Madison Heights in Pasadena, where ancient oaks cast cooling shade over elegant streets and filter pollutants, making the air feel surprisingly pleasant even when the mercury soars.<\/p>\n<p>Contrast this with South Los Angeles, a mere 40-minute drive away, where the demographic shifts to predominantly Black and Latino residents. Park on Vermont Avenue, just south of USC\u2019s University Park Campus, and you\u2019re immediately struck by the stark landscape: Vast expanses of exposed asphalt absorb and radiate the sun\u2019s intensity, making the air shimmer with heat. Here, the oppressive warmth is not just felt; it assaults you, underscoring a tale of two climates within a single metropolitan expanse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the same day, with the exact same weather conditions, the experiences for communities across L.A. County can be tremendously different,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/manuel-pastor\/\">Manuel Pastor<\/a>, Distinguished Professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/soci\/sociology\/\">Sociology<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ase\/\">American Studies and Ethnicity<\/a> and Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society and Social Change at USC Dornsife.<\/p>\n<p>People of color and those with low incomes are more likely to live in neighborhoods without shade, notes Pastor, who leads USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eri\/\">Equity Research Institute<\/a> (ERI).<\/p>\n<p>In neighborhoods such as East Hollywood, South L.A. and Pacoima, temperatures can soar up to 10 degrees higher than in more affluent and predominantly white areas nearby. This phenomenon, known as the \u201cheat island effect,\u201d worsens as the climate warms, putting residents of these areas at greater risk of heatstroke, heart attacks, strokes and other heat-related illnesses.<\/p>\n<p>This disparity extends beyond just temperature. Take the impact of air pollution on people of color, who are more likely to live perilously close to freeways and toxic industries. The heightened exposure to pollutants puts them at greater risk of respiratory illnesses and lung cancer \u2014 and poses a particularly dire threat to children.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most significant and consistent predictor of higher exposure to air pollution is not income,\u201d Pastor says. \u201cIt is race.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"clear: left;\">Environmental Injustice<\/h2>\n<p data-wp-editing=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1764\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryA-678x1024.png\" alt=\"A lush, green tree standing prominently at the curb of a residential street, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and sidewalk lined with a diverse array of well-maintained plants.\" width=\"350\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryA-678x1024.png 678w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryA-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryA-768x1161.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryA.png 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>From the way toxins can interact with our genes in utero to a childhood spent next to a highway, researchers increasingly recognize the intricate relationship between our environment and our health. In USC Dornsife\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mcb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/118\/2023\/05\/MDI_DOOHD_Flyer.pdf\">Developmental Origins of Health and Disease<\/a> program, run jointly with Children\u2019s Hospital Los Angeles, graduate students work alongside faculty to investigate how factors outside the body \u2014 whether occurring in the environment, in society or across generations \u2014 can cause disease.<\/p>\n<p>But finding solutions to close deeply rooted environmental equity gaps, and their interrelated causes, is far from straightforward. <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/paulina-oliva\/\">Paulina Oliva<\/a>, associate professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/econ\/\">economics<\/a> at USC Dornsife, is developing tools to help policymakers understand, at a granular scale, how air pollution affects communities in disparate ways.<\/p>\n<p>She points out that residents of areas plagued by higher levels of air pollution often face a double jeopardy: Not only do they typically have limited access to health care, but they also lack the financial resources necessary for adequate recovery time from illnesses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I get sick because of exposure to air pollution,\u201d says Oliva, \u201cI might be fine because I can stay home and take care of myself. But for a low-income person who can\u2019t do that, their health could be disproportionately damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This intertwining of environmental harm with socioeconomic disparities presents a significant challenge for researchers. It complicates efforts to study the direct effects of pollution because the compounded impacts on less affluent communities are difficult to separate and analyze in isolation.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to reducing the environmental equity gap, what balance should policymakers strike between improving air quality and increasing access to health care? Oliva is developing tools to help policymakers break down the complex causes of environmental inequities, thereby supporting the creation of more effective interventions.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>In neighborhoods such as East Hollywood, South L.A. and Pacoima, temperatures can soar up to 10 degrees higher than in more affluent and predominantly white areas nearby.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Data-Driven Urban Forestry<\/h2>\n<p>One solution to environmental inequity? Plant more trees. USC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/publicexchange.usc.edu\/urban-trees-initiative\/\">Urban Trees Initiative<\/a>, launched in 2020 by USC\u00a0Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/publicexchange.usc.edu\/\">Public Exchange<\/a>, aims to reduce environmental disparities across L.A. by helping the city and local nonprofits plant more trees in heat islands and pollution hotspots. In 2023, the Bezos Earth Fund awarded $2.9 million to Pastor and <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/profile\/john-p-wilson\/\">John Wilson<\/a>, director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/\">USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute<\/a> (SSI) and professor of architecture, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, population and public health sciences, sociology and spatial sciences, to counter some of climate change\u2019s negative impacts and to narrow existing environmental equity gaps plaguing cities across the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Working as part of the USC Urban Trees Initiative, SSI is using geospatial tools and data analysis to determine which areas within vulnerable communities would most benefit from additional tree canopy.<\/p>\n<p>Pastor and Wilson note that, thanks to the Bezos Earth Fund, they are planting the seeds of equity and resilience. Their work, a fusion of strategic tree-planting, advanced geospatial methods and social justice, isn\u2019t just shaping urban landscapes, it\u2019s enhancing community well-being.<\/p>\n<h2>Ask the trees and the community<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1765\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryB-199x300.png\" alt=\"A city street scene featuring a closed store with roll-up security shutters and signage above, alongside a streetlight and a bus stop sign.\" width=\"350\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryB-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryB-678x1024.png 678w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryB-768x1161.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/2climate-InStoryB.png 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another key step? Understanding which trees to plant. <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/william-berelson\/\">William Berelson<\/a>, Paxson H. Offield Professor in Coastal and Marine Systems, is part of the Urban Trees Initiative, collaborating with the City of Los Angeles to develop a scorecard that ranks trees according to how well they cool the streets and filter pollution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe go out and basically interrogate a tree,\u201d says Berelson, professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/earth\/\">Earth sciences<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/environmental-studies\/\">environmental studies<\/a> and spatial sciences. \u201cWe put a sensor in it and measure the canopy air quality to determine how effective it is under different conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pastor\u2019s work overlaps with the Urban Trees Initiative\u2019s mission. For more than a decade, his team has worked with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.policylink.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PolicyLink<\/a> to develop the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eri\/research\/national-equity-atlas-partnership\/\">National Equity Atlas<\/a>, America\u2019s most comprehensive map of racial and economic equity. Today, ERI is expanding on this work by gathering data on environmental indicators and climate risk, including heat maps and tree canopy coverage, to pinpoint areas most in need of intervention.<\/p>\n<p>At the forefront of Pastor\u2019s mind, though, is finding ways to foster healthier environments while protecting communities from \u201cgreen gentrification.\u201d This, Pastor says, is why conversations with residents about their wants and needs are driving both the National Equity Atlas and the Urban Trees Initiative.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA large part of our work is listening to environmental justice leaders throughout the United States,\u201d says Pastor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe ask, \u2018What would be a useful piece of data for environmental justice and health equity in your communities?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are always conscious of the power and importance of community voices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--signup-form dark\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--signup-form\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"text-image-container\">\n  <div class=\"text-container\">\n\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          USC Dornsife Magazine\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <h2 style=\"color: white;\">Spring\/Summer 2024<\/h2>\n<h1 style=\"color: white;\">Health and Well&#8209;Being<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/health-and-well-being\/\n    aria-label=\"Read more about Back to Issue\"  \n>\n    Back to Issue \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"image-container\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/Hero_top_HealthWellbeing-900x600.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/Hero_top_HealthWellbeing-1200x800.jpg 1200w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/Hero_top_HealthWellbeing-900x600.jpg 900w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 50vw, (min-width:768px) 100vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a county divided by heat, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As climate disparities divide Los Angeles, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change and healing for Angelenos\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental justice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As climate disparities divide Los Angeles, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change and healing for Angelenos\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC Dornsife Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-07-11T15:00:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-13T19:16:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1150\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michael Liu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"headline\":\"As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-07-11T15:00:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-13T19:16:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\"},\"wordCount\":14,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\",\"name\":\"Researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental justice\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-07-11T15:00:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-13T19:16:35+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"description\":\"As climate disparities divide Los Angeles, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change and healing for Angelenos\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1150},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife Magazine\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\",\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Michael Liu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/liumk\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice","description":"As climate disparities divide Los Angeles, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change and healing for Angelenos","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental justice","og_description":"As climate disparities divide Los Angeles, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change and healing for Angelenos","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/","og_site_name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","article_published_time":"2024-07-11T15:00:54+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-09-13T19:16:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1150,"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Michael Liu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/"},"author":{"name":"Michael Liu","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"headline":"As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice","datePublished":"2024-07-11T15:00:54+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-13T19:16:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/"},"wordCount":14,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg","articleSection":["Article"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/","name":"Researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental justice","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg","datePublished":"2024-07-11T15:00:54+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-13T19:16:35+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"description":"As climate disparities divide Los Angeles, USC Dornsife plants the seeds of change and healing for Angelenos","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/ATaleofTwoClimates_fullwidth.jpg","width":2000,"height":1150},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/a-tale-of-two-climates\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"As climate disparities divide LA, researchers aim to heal the scars of environmental injustice"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/","name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447","name":"Michael Liu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Michael Liu"},"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/liumk\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1763"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2316,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1763\/revisions\/2316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}