Tuesday, May 12

Dear Reader,

When we consider the devastating impact of a warming planet on human lives, we typically look to things like wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. But among the deadliest climate disasters in 2025 were heatwaves, sometimes called “silent killers.” Down To Earth cites a new annual report by World Weather Attribution that analyzed climate-fueled disasters around the world and concluded that 157 extreme weather events in 2025 met its humanitarian impact criteria. Floods and heatwaves were the most frequent, with 49 events each, followed by storms, wildfires, and droughts. Of the 22 events studied in depth, 17 were found to have been made more severe or more likely by climate change.

According to the analysis, “human-induced climate change has made extreme heat both more intense and far more frequent since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. Global temperatures have risen by about 0.3°C over that period, adding an average of 11 additional extremely hot days each year worldwide.”

Consequently, as Bluedot has reported, cities around the world are having to respond, and we’re seeing such measures as this hospital in India adding a heat stroke unit, and New York City’s comprehensive emergency response. (See also Bluedot’s tips on how a community can respond to extreme heat.)

What we hear less about is perhaps the simplest solution: Shade. From trees.

A new study in the journal Nature reveals just who’s cooling off beneath those shade-giving canopies. “Strictly by looking at which areas are shaded, we can tell where rich people and poor people live," said Fabio Duarte, a researcher from MIT's Senseable City Lab, who analyzed the findings.

Shade segregation is a reminder that trees aren’t just lovely; they can be life-saving. “With increasing temperatures, providing shade is an essential public amenity," Duarte told MIT News. "I think providing shade in pedestrian spaces should almost be a public right."

Shadily,

Dot