THE LEAFLET

Welcome to July, where it’s only supposed to be the start of summer, but DC temperatures continue to be in the low to mid 90s, with real-feel heat indexes consistently more than 100 degrees. It’s officially the hottest summer ever on record. As the climate crisis continues to affect cities across the country, its impacts – including extreme heat – are only going to become more pronounced.

This June, Washington, DC faced a scorching heat wave, with temperatures soaring to 100 degrees for the first time in nearly eight years. This extreme weather event is part of a broader trend of rising temperatures nationwide due to climate change. The urban heat island effect – in which heat-absorbing surfaces such as buildings, sidewalks, and roads can lead to temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than in cooler, greener areas – further amplifies these temperature increases in cities.

The impact of this heat is not evenly distributed across the District. Neighborhoods like Kingman Park in Northeast DC are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperatures due to limited tree coverage and lack of green spaces. Other areas facing similar challenges include Ivy City, Brightwood Park, and Columbia Heights. These heat islands, identified chiefly in Northeast and Southeast areas of the city, often overlap with existing socio-economic disparities, disproportionately affecting communities of color and those living below the poverty line.

The consequences of these urban heat islands are far-reaching. Extreme heat can exacerbate existing health conditions and create new ones, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and seniors. In Kingman Park, for example, one in five residents are either children or seniors and 10 percent of residents have asthma. As the climate continues to warm, projections suggest that by 2080, DC could experience up to 75 heat emergency days per year, a dramatic increase from the historical average of 11 days.

So, what can be done to mitigate these temperatures? Trees play a crucial role in offsetting the urban heat island effect. They provide shade, reduce ambient temperatures, and improve air quality. Increasing the city’s tree canopy is vital to decreasing heat disparities and improving overall quality of life for DC residents.

At Casey Trees, we’re doing our best to reduce the heat island effect through our tree planting and maintenance programs across the city, but especially in the least canopied areas of Wards 5, 7, and 8. To support us in this work, consider donating to our efforts, attending a tree care event this summer, or requesting a free planting at your residence, school, or community space. These efforts are crucial, as the actions taken now will have significant impacts in the coming decades.