In 2017, Hurricanes Maria and Irma swept across Puerto Rico, causing a total of $167 billion in damages. This report and accompanying fact sheets (English and Spanish) outline the economic impacts of Puerto Rico’s disaster recovery efforts led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) and make a case for investment in community-driven resilience.
In Tacoma, our analysis found that urban heat islands increase maximum temperatures by as much as 6.2 degrees F above the local baseline. Combined with regional climatic effects, neighborhoods in Central and South Tacoma may be as much as 14 degrees F hotter than neighborhoods in North Tacoma. 11,980 people live in neighborhoods where maximum temperature exceed the 90th percentile and where average per capita incomes are less than 200% the federal poverty level.
As the impacts of climate change and heat waves become more frequent, urban heat islands are are a significant cause for concern. This case study of Broward County, Florida found that urban heat islands increase maximum temperatures by as much as 5°F above the local baseline. 90,000 people live in neighborhoods where the urban heat islands increase temperatures by 2°F or more and where average per capita incomes are less than 200% the federal poverty level.
Salmon is at the heart of the culture and wellbeing for many Tribes and First Nations in the Pacific Northwest. With salmon populations in decline across the region, it is important to understand the breadth and depth of socio-cultural values associated with salmon, particularly as those values relate to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and Nations. This project seeks to characterize socio-cultural values related to salmon and appreciate the rich and multifaceted relationships that Indigenous Peoples hold with these critical species.
In Seattle, our analysis found that urban heat islands increase maximum temperatures by as much as 6° F above the local baseline. Combined with regional climatic effects, neighborhoods in Central and South Seattle may be as much as 14° F hotter than neighborhoods in North Seattle. There is a strong correlation between summer heat and negative health outcomes. Temperatures above 82°F significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and heat stroke.
Washington offers hundreds of outdoor recreation activities that are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. Building off an analysis conducted in 2015, our Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State provides updated data on the estimated economic contribution of outdoor recreation, as well as non-monetary benefits (ecosystem service values) that stem from public recreation lands.
The Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn, NYC, which is centered around the Gowanus Canal (a designated U.S. EPA Superfund site), is slated to be rezoned into a mixed residential, commercial, and manufacturing area - and, consequently, is expected to spur rapid property value growth. It will also undergo remediation - cleanup will focus on the canal itself, as well as three former manufactured gas plant sites adjacent to the canal.
The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) administers recreation on four of the reservoirs in the interconnected C-BT system–Horsetooth Reservoir, Carter Lake, Flatiron Reservoir, and Pinewood Reservoir. This report estimates that spending associated with reservoir park recreation totals $164 million per year and goes on to support $285 million in associated spending within Larimer County.
New Jersey’s water infrastructure systems often experience stormwater overflow, referred to as Combined Sewer Overflow, which puts communities at risk due to pollution and flooding. This study looks into how green infrastructure can be part of the solution for these communities.
Earth Economics partnered with Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) to produce Accounting for Nature with USDA-NRCS Conservation Practices in the Central Great Plains, a study on ecosystem services in the central Great Plains that revealed a broad sense of the economic importance of NRCS conservation investments in providing non-market benefits to communities.
