This paper investigates the inequality in summertime heat-related mortality, morbidity, and electricity consumption across US municipalities and explores the potential of urban reforestation to mitigate these impacts. The study finds significant disparities in tree cover between majority white and majority people-of-color (POC) neighborhoods, leading to unequal benefits from tree-mediated cooling. An ambitious reforestation program is proposed, with estimated benefits including reduced mortality and morbidity, decreased electricity consumption, increased carbon sequestration, and decreased GHG emissions. The economic value of these benefits is substantial, although planting costs could exceed benefits in some neighborhoods, particularly those already with higher tree cover. High return-on-investment (ROI) areas, often those with lower existing tree cover and majority POC populations, represent prime targets for reforestation.

Robert I. McDonald, Tanushree Biswas, T. C. Chakraborty, Timm Kroeger, Susan C. Cook-Patton, Joseph E. Fargione