BILL NUMBER: S8431A

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to directing the department of environmental conser-
vation in conjunction with the environmental justice interagency coordi-
nating council and the climate justice working group to conduct a study
on the impacts of the urban island effect on disadvantaged communities

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to amend the environmental conservation law
to require the Department of Environmental Conservation in conjunction
with the Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council to
collect data on the disproportionate impact of increased heat in prima-
rily black and Latino neighborhoods and publish a report. With the goal
of advocating for and increasing tree equity and conscious urban land-
scaping in these communities.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

              

Section one requires the Department of Environmental Conservation work
jointly with the Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council
to conduct a study on the negative impact of heat on key health indica-
tors in primarily black and Latino neighborhoods. The study shall:
provide key definitions, identify the key health indicators and collect
data from residents on how they are being negatively impacted phys-
ically, compare the differences in average temperature in predominantly
black and/or Latino neighborhoods with those of predominantly white
neighborhoods, compare same health indicators with those of residents in
predominantly white neighborhoods, compare the differences between self-
reported mental health and black and Latino residents with that of white
residents and provide and correlation assessment, note the number of
trees in both neighborhood groups and provide an average disparity,
recommend an increase in / how to increase the amount of trees in black
and Latino neighborhoods and recommend an increase in further developing
greenspaces and urban landscaping in black and Latino neighborhoods
(i.e. parks, gardens, playgrounds etc.)

Section two sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State is comprised of various cities that are susceptible to
increased heat. These urban areas are known as heat islands as they are
susceptible to the phenomenon known as Urban Heat Island effect.  Urban
Heat Island effect is a common phenomenon in cities. According to the
Buildings Journal, this occurs when "Pavements absorb and store solar
radiation, leading to a further increase in the surface tempera-
tures...heat absorbed by the black asphalt pavements is released into
the surrounding environment, leading to pavement rutting and UHI
effect."

Research done by UC Berkley found that, "blacks were 52% more likely
than whites to live in "urban heat islands" -- microclimates that can
get an extra 5 to 10 degrees warmer during heat waves -- and Latinos
were 21% more likely." (LA Times) It is important to outline the demo-
graphic of people experiencing UHI effect because it is accompanied by a
host of health related ailments including respiratory issues like asth-
ma, heat stroke and exhaustion, heat cramps, and general discomfort.

UHI puts neighborhoods impacted by it at a higher risk for these issues
because as heat is trapped in the ground during the day, the decline in
temperature as the sun goes down initiates its release at night. This
means that during the night when these neighborhoods should be getting a
reprieve from the heat, temperatures often remain as high as in the day.
This is particularly harmful because it exacerbates fatigue in relation
to sleep and rest. This can compound upon health issues and make them
worse at a quicker rate.

Furthermore, neighborhoods where the majority of residents are black and
Latino were also found to have a direct correlation to being low-income
and having residents with higher rates of comorbidities, the most preva-
lent of which being COPD and Hypertension. These comorbidities are
extremely likely to be exacerbated in highly heat permeated environments
and the socioeconomic status of these neighborhoods means they are less
likely to have AC or be able to sustain a high-energy bill for its
extended use throughout the summer months.

This bill and the ensuing study would highlight all of these issues
through a comprehensive assessment that would call for the implementa-
tion of more greenspaces in these environments and more trees as a way
to naturally combat the effects of UHI.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately