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Redlining and Climate Change is a resource that can be done completely remotely and was adapted in April 2020 for two classes taught post-COVID.

The introductory resources and readings focus on defining redlining and the impacts of urban tree canopy cover on mitigating temperatures. These can be assigned in addition to a short lecture on how urban ecological systems work and the drivers of urban heat island effect. 

The worksheet is based around a few resources, including Hoffman et al. 2020, a paper that shows trends in impervious surface cover, land surface temperature, and canopy cover in cities that were historically redlined in the US. It has students interpret findings, write a plain language abstract, and also explore redlining and inequity in highway building in the Twin Cities. 

Finally, there is an optional extension of the activity to include a more 'solutions-driven' perspective, where students work individually or in small teams to develop a 'bid' to create greenspace in a historically red-lined neighborhood to promote environmental justice and mitigate the impacts of climate change in the neighborhood. 

• Hoffman 2020.pdf(PDF | 2 MB)
• Redlining and Climate -Pre-class readings.docx(DOCX | 18 KB)
• Redlining and Climate Change Worksheet.docx(DOCX | 2 MB)
• Urban Greenspace Design Competition Activity.docx(DOCX | 10 KB)
• Housing Segregation and Redlining in America: A Short History | NPR - YouTube
• Planting Trees Can Combat Effects Of Urban Heat Island, Climate Change : NPR
• Studies Find Redlining Linked To More Heat, Fewer Trees In Cities Nationwide : NPR
• https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=5/37.8/-97.9
• https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8b6ba2620ac5407ea7ecfb4359132ee4
• License terms

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Heskel, M. (2020). Redlining and Climate Change. QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/XPSD-GK49

  BibTex | EndNote

1. 1 Hour
2. Activity Length
3. Audience Level
4. Connection to Place
5. Developing Empathy
6. Developing Self-awareness
7. Extended Project
8. Homework
9. Instructional Setting
10. introductory
11. Lab
12. Majors
13. More than 1 hour
14. Non-majors
15. Online course
16. Promoting Engagement and Self-Efficacy
17. Teaching material
18. Undergraduate