Across the world there are correlations with lower socioeconomic status and poorer access to ecosystem services. While this problem may seem abstract, one powerful way communities are impacted is through excessive heat.
In cities, the temperature can be as high as 16 degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island (UHI). Urban areas receive the same amount of heat from the sun as rural areas, but the structure of cities changes the way that heat is absorbed and reflected. UHI can create dangerous heat stress leading to lower productivity, psychological stress, and death in vulnerable populations. Austin's urban heat island had worsened with development leading to many areas with intense UHI:
The rain capture program pilot currently being adopted in Waller (shown in black above) can address this heat stress by increasing irrigation, soil moisture, and tree cover. As the program expands to other parts of the city, the inequitable heat of potential sites should be considered.