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Examining heat inequity in a Brazilian metropolitan region

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  • Meen Wook Jung
  • Mônica A Haddad
  • Brian K Gelder

Abstract

Urban heat islands (UHIs) are one of the major global issues that need to be addressed because of the negative effects that higher temperatures can cause to people and the environment, such as health issues and higher energy consumption. Within the literature on climate justice, specifically heat inequity, there are very few studies about Global South urban areas. Our study examines the spatial relationships between heat risk, urban form composition, and vulnerable social groups in Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR), in Brazil. We evaluated the spatial pattern of heat risk and concluded that the study area was experiencing UHIs in 2015. We estimated spatial regressions and found that the non-White population, low-income residents, and the elderly population were statistically significantly associated with heat risk. This case study indicates that even though Global South urban areas have the opposite spatial distribution of social groups (i.e., high-income residents living in the center and low-income living in the periphery) when compared to the Global North, areas where vulnerable social groups reside are experiencing similar inequities concerning the UHI effects in both South and North. Our case study exemplifies that climate justice is not taking place in BHMR, and specifically, heat inequity is being experienced by vulnerable social groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Meen Wook Jung & Mônica A Haddad & Brian K Gelder, 2024. "Examining heat inequity in a Brazilian metropolitan region," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 51(1), pages 109-127, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:51:y:2024:i:1:p:109-127
    DOI: 10.1177/23998083231170634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiavegatto Filho, A.D.P. & Beltrań-Sánchez, H. & Kawachi, I., 2014. "Racial disparities in life expectancy in Brazil: Challenges from a multiracial society," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(11), pages 2156-2162.
    2. David Schlosberg & Lisette B. Collins, 2014. "From environmental to climate justice: climate change and the discourse of environmental justice," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(3), pages 359-374, May.
    3. Bev Wilson, 2020. "Urban Heat Management and the Legacy of Redlining," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 86(4), pages 443-457, October.
    4. David M. Lapola & Diego R. Braga & Gabriela M. Di Giulio & Roger R. Torres & Maria P. Vasconcellos, 2019. "Heat stress vulnerability and risk at the (super) local scale in six Brazilian capitals," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 477-492, June.
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