School Notes: School of the Environment
March/April 2025

People of color exposed to more extremely hot days

People of color in the United States are disproportionately exposed to extreme urban heat. Yet, most studies on urban heat have focused on large cities and urban centers at a fixed point in time. Less is known about how heat exposure changes over time, especially in smaller metropolitan areas. A new study by Yale School of the Environment researchers examines how increasing urban heat is affecting low-income and people-of-color communities. 

“In the current literature, there are a lot of studies showing that underserved communities, such as communities of color and low-income communities, are disproportionately affected by climate change. However, there’s still a large knowledge gap on how the urban heat disparity is changing; how underserved communities are affected by the change in urban heat; and how the adaptation capability of those communities is changing,” said Shijuan Chen, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral associate at YSE. The study showed that underserved communities experienced higher overall temperatures, more sweltering days, and more significant increases in heat exposure over a 30-year period.

Climate change is reshaping portfolio investment strategies

Asset owners who control substantial capital in the financial system through pension funds, endowments, foundations, and individual holdings can play a crucial role in driving investments in climate change mitigation, according to a new Yale School of the Environment study.

The study, led by Emil Moldovan ’24MESc, found that owners of large-asset portfolios are recognizing the need to consider the environmental impacts of investment decisions and aligning portfolio goals with global efforts to limit climate change. However, perceived risk, lack of training in the climate investment sector, and aligning investments with portfolio goals are presenting challenges. To speed investment, the authors proposed several key interventions, including training financial advisors; extending investment time horizons; and engaging beneficiaries and stakeholders on what actions are available to them.