Ted Talks Daily – A 3-part plan to take on extreme heat waves | Eleni Myrivili

Intro

In this episode of Ted Talks Daily, Eleni Myrivili discusses the urgent need to address extreme heat waves and their devastating effects. She highlights the vulnerability of certain populations and the impact of heat waves on mental health, productivity, and infrastructure. Myrivili proposes short-term and long-term solutions, emphasizing the importance of bringing nature into urban areas. Through examples from cities around the world, she demonstrates how nature-based interventions can mitigate the effects of extreme heat and build resilience.

Main Takeaways

The Deadly Impact of Extreme Heat

• Extreme heat is the deadliest of all extreme weather phenomena.
• The last decade has been the hottest ever recorded in history.
• The poor, elderly, pregnant women, and manual laborers are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

Impacts on Health, Productivity, and Infrastructure

• Heat waves have a significant impact on mental health, productivity, and workplace injuries.
• Our infrastructure was designed for a climate that no longer exists.

Short-Term Solutions

• Short-term solutions include smartphone apps for personalized risk assessments, neighborhood check-ins, and diverting energy to avoid blackouts.

Long-Term Solutions: Redesigning Cities

• Long-term solutions require a radical redesign of our cities away from carbon modernity and towards a new type of urbanity led by landscape architects.
• The cities of the future will be different metabolic systems with a radical increase in trees, biodiversity, and water in the urban fabric.

Examples of Nature-Based Interventions

• Bringing nature into the urban fabric is the most important thing for bringing down heat in cities.
• Cities need to prioritize sustainability and equity to build resilience.
• Urban networks like Resilient Cities and C40 are supporting cities in learning from each other.
• Athens is using an ancient Roman aqueduct to support urban nature and lower heat.
• Medellin created green corridors that lowered temperatures and provided ecosystemic services.
• Seoul created a blue and green corridor that lowered temperatures, protected the city from flooding, and supported business development.
• Paris is using river water to provide free cooling to buildings.
• Melbourne’s Nature in the City Strategy aims to create a healthier urban environment for future generations.

Summary

The Deadly Impact of Extreme Heat

Extreme heat poses a significant threat to human life, being the deadliest of all extreme weather phenomena. The last decade has witnessed record-breaking temperatures, exacerbating the risks associated with heat waves. Vulnerable populations, including the poor, elderly, pregnant women, and manual laborers, are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of extreme heat.

Impacts on Health, Productivity, and Infrastructure

Heat waves extend beyond physical discomfort, impacting mental health, productivity, and workplace safety. The existing infrastructure was designed for a different climate, rendering it ill-equipped to handle the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves. This necessitates a comprehensive reassessment and redesign of our cities.

Short-Term and Long-Term Solutions

In the short term, innovative solutions such as smartphone apps for personalized risk assessments, neighborhood check-ins, and energy diversion can help mitigate the immediate risks of extreme heat. However, long-term solutions require a radical shift in urban planning and design. Landscape architects must lead the transformation towards a new type of urbanity, characterized by increased green spaces, biodiversity, and water within the urban fabric.

Examples of Nature-Based Interventions

Bringing nature into the urban fabric is crucial for combating extreme heat and addressing climate change. Cities need to prioritize sustainability and equity to build resilience. Urban networks like Resilient Cities and C40 facilitate knowledge sharing among cities, enabling them to learn from each other’s experiences. Examples from Athens, Medellin, Seoul, Paris, and Melbourne demonstrate the effectiveness of nature-based interventions in lowering temperatures, providing ecosystemic services, and creating healthier urban environments.

Conclusion

As extreme heat waves continue to pose a significant threat, it is imperative that we take immediate action. By implementing short-term and long-term solutions and embracing nature-based interventions, we can mitigate the impacts of extreme heat, protect vulnerable populations, and build resilient cities for a sustainable future.