By Ayseli Karabekmez
Communities across the United States are becoming increasingly familiar with the impacts of climate change, including more frequent extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires. In particular, urban communities face a greater risk of heat domes and flash floods. In many cities, suburbs, and small towns, infrastructure and community planning haven’t kept up with the changing climate.
While climate change poses severe risks to urban communities, these same communities are often best suited to address it through sustainable transportation, energy-efficiency standards, and thoughtful community planning. Concentrated populations and high levels of economic activity make urban areas responsible for approximately 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions. While their overall emissions may be lower than cities, suburban and rural communities also emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. These communities face distinct environmental and infrastructure challenges, such as greater reliance on private vehicles due to longer commuting distances, sprawling development, and limited access to public transportation.
To mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and make communities more environmentally sustainable and resilient, researchers and policymakers are increasingly exploring “green urbanism.” Green urbanism encompasses a range of infrastructure and planning strategies designed to help communities prepare for extreme weather events, such as heat waves, flooding, and drought, while also promoting long-term sustainability through measures like transit-oriented development and energy-efficient buildings.
A recent poll by Data for Progress examined U.S. likely voters’ familiarity with and support for various green urbanism strategies and infrastructure.
The survey finds that a majority of Americans are aware that extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, with 54% of urban, 55% of suburban, and 56% of rural residents saying the number of these events has increased.
When asked which areas in their community require the most urgent attention or investment, voters most frequently select housing affordability (57%), followed by local roads and public infrastructure (42%), the local power grid (28%), and extreme weather preparedness (25%).
However, some differences emerge across urban, suburban, and rural areas. In particular, investments in the local power grid and extreme weather preparedness are higher priorities among rural residents compared with urban or suburban residents, reflecting the distinct infrastructure challenges facing rural communities.
