The Charlotte Jewish News- August 2025- Page 22
Bal Tashchit and Beyond: The Impact of Extreme Heat
By Summer Minchew
This summer, Charlotte residents experienced intense heat that impacted daily routines, outdoor activities, and energy use. Many adjusted plans to avoid the hottest parts of the day, limited time outside for pets and loved ones, and relied on air conditioning around the clock to stay safe and comfortable.
In June, 128 million Americans— almost 40 % of the U. S. population— were under heat advisories. Heat waves, like those seen this summer, raise concerns about human health, food supply, and infrastructure.
Extremely hot days are projected to occur more often. The number of days above 95˚F is expected to increase across the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency( EPA), average temperatures across the contiguous United States have risen approximately 60 % more than the global average since 1970. The likelihood and severity of extreme heat are expected to continue as global temperatures rise due to climate change. Human Health Heat waves are the deadliest form of extreme weather in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to a range of health issues, including heatstroke, dehydration, respiratory problems, and exacerbation of existing conditions. Groups most at risk include children, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, people with pre-existing conditions, people with disabilities, outdoor workers, emergency responders, incarcerated people, low-income communities, pregnant women, athletes, pets, and service support animals.
Food Supply
There are nearly two million farms in the United States, and more than half the nation’ s land is used for agricultural production. Extreme heat worsens many threats to agriculture, including air pollution, wildfires, flooding, soil erosion, and drought. It also slows plant growth and makes crops more vulnerable to disease and insect damage. Livestock are impacted by extreme heat, just like humans. In addition to raising livestock mortality rates, extreme heat leads to lower fertility and resilience to disease. It can also affect the production of eggs and milk. Severe temperatures impact food storage and transportation processes, resulting in significant food losses and shortened shelf life.
Infrastructure and Transportation Systems
Infrastructure, utilities, and manufacturing are under increasing stress as heat waves push materials and equipment beyond their temperature thresholds. Increased energy demand, as more people use air conditioning to cool down, puts a strain on the grid, leading to more frequent power outages. High temperatures strain the infrastructure and equipment vital to treating and delivering water. On our roadways, heat can soften asphalt, potentially causing safety issues and requiring more frequent replacement and maintenance. Concrete and steel used in bridges can expand, crack, and buckle. Train rails made of metal expand, causing the tracks to buckle and increasing the risk of derailment. Local Impact Last summer in Charlotte, a group of more than 50 community scientists gathered real temperature data aimed at helping Charlotteans understand how heat affects our communities. Charlotte Heat Mappers’ Interactive Story Map covers approximately 100 square miles of Charlotte, centered on Uptown. Hotter areas are shown in red, while less hot regions are shown in yellow. With heat indexes varying by 12 ° F across the 100-square-mile study area, the highest heat indexes in Charlotte are concentrated within a long and narrow urban corridor stretching along South Boulevard, through Uptown, and into NoDa along North Tryon Street.
Along this corridor, a high concentration of building materials, such as asphalt, cement, and steel, absorbs the sun’ s energy and stores it as heat. This area also has relatively few trees and lacks the kinds of vegetated green spaces that could help to cool it down.
Locations at the lower end of the heat spectrum include areas with extensive green infrastructure, such as parks and forested areas.
Charlotte Heat Mappers emphasize the need to provide people with relief when the risk of heat exposure is high, especially in places where people spend long periods outdoors or lack access to cool spaces due to socioeconomic inequities. The heat mapping data can:
- Provide a more informed and equitable approach to heat mitigation policy development.
- Identify areas where local governments and NGOs can concentrate tree planting efforts to help bring down temperatures.
- Inform supplemental support to existing services that help people keep cool and safe during extreme heat, including sun shelters, water features, free fans for seniors, and energy bill assistance programs.
Dr. Katherine Idziorek, assistant professor of Geography and
Click on the map to try the Map of Charlotte’ s Urban Heat Island interactive heat map online in the CJN online edition. Zoom in or out, search for a specific location.( Note: The unit is heat index, which is a compound measure of temperature and humidity designed to offer a more accurate sense for how the air feels. It is also the basis for National Weather Service heat alerts. Created by the Charlotte Heat Mappers( a UNC Charlotte-based research team), CAPA Strategies, and 60 + community science volunteers.
Community Planning at UNC Charlotte, said,“ We hope that this community science data collection effort will help to raise public awareness of the dangers of extreme heat and the need for action.”
Charlotte Heat Mappers is collaborating with the City of Charlotte’ s Office of Sustainability and Resilience, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office, and Mecklenburg County Public Health to develop a Heat Action Plan— a comprehensive plan that encompasses both short-term responses and long-term strategies for mitigating the impacts of extreme heat in our communities. They are launching their public engagement efforts with a Heat Action Survey to learn more about how people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg experience extreme heat and what kinds of
mitigation strategies they believe would be most impactful in their communities.
Feeling the heat? You can help! Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, and the Charlotte Heat Mappers want to learn from your experiences with extreme heat. Your participation in this five-minute survey will shape a county-wide Heat Action Plan to help protect you, your family, and your community from the dangers of extreme heat. If you live, work, or spend time in Mecklenburg County, your input is needed! Scan the QR code below. To learn more, contact: heatmappers @ charlotte. edu
Jewish tradition emphasizes the importance of caring for the environment, as we are called to act as partners in preserving creation. If you’ re interested in volunteering with or donating to Shalom Green, visit our website at www. shalomgreenCLT. org or email info @ shalomgreenCLT. org. Connect with us on Facebook at Shalom Green: Shalom Park Environmental Initiative and on Instagram @ shalomgreen _ CLT.