Study impacts of urban heat island effect

Date Due:
Responsible Entity:: DEC
Action:: Study impacts of urban heat island effect
Summary:: DEC, in consultation with the Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council and Climate Justice Working Group, must conduct a study on the impact of the urban heat island effect on disadvantaged communities.
Status:: PENDING: DEC and NYSERDA are leading development of an extreme heat action plan and have contracted with U. Buffalo to provide a literature review on effects of UHIs to be included in the report, which will also include recommendations to mitigate risks. DEC is working with SUNY ESF to identify current and future UHIs in urban disadvantaged communities and to provide a tool to assess impact of potential interventions. Tools, resources, and more information on this work is available here. DEC published an Extreme Heat Action Plan in June 2024.
Statute:: Chapter 563 of 2022

Statutory Language: Chapter 563 of 2022 § 1

“The department of environmental conservation, in consultation with the environmental justice interagency coordinating council and the climate justice working group, shall conduct a study on the impacts of the urban heat island effect on disadvantaged communities. The study shall at a minimum, identify urban disadvantaged communities with concentrations of heat islands, include recommendations on how to identify, prevent and address adverse health and environmental impacts from urban heat island effects, and include existing and/or recommended funding available to address such impacts, including but not limited to projects eligible pursuant to paragraph e of subdivision 1 of section 58-0703 of the environmental conservation law.