MUSE Conference talk advocates for transforming cities into more equitable and just places
The Michigan University-Wide Sustainability and Environment (MUSE) Conference concluded February 4 with keynote speaker Dr. Sara Hughes, an assistant professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability. Hughes’ work focuses on intergovernmental access to safe and affordable drinking water in U.S. cities, and she has done extensive research into urban climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. Hughes spoke about how cities must take climate action to transform into more just and equitable places.
Hughes addressed the dual challenges cities face in today’s world: climate change and racial and economic inequality. She discussed the “deeply intertwined” nature of these two issues, especially in Southeast Michigan, which has some of the most unequal cities in the United States.
The connection between urban areas and climate change is strong; 75 percent of global fossil fuel CO2 emissions come from cities, and 98 percent of the United States is urbanized. However, cities’ carbon footprints are not all the same; larger, wealthier cities release the most emissions. At the same time, cities demonstrate disparities in the way racial groups are affected by climate change. In Detroit, on average 60 percent of low-income households experience flooding, and 15 percent of those households’ residents have had to leave their homes. In contrast, 40 percent of high-income households in Detroit experience flooding, and only 2 percent of their residents have had to vacate their homes.
With both climate change and racial inequality at the forefront of North American cities, Hughes is calling for a “just urban transition.” “Cities are front and center when it comes to climate impact,” Hughes said, and referenced the “uneven experiences of climate change” that different racial groups face in these cities. Hughes believes that this transition requires a “whole-city approach” with “deep transformations to urban infrastructures and economies.”
Hughes painted a three-pronged approach to transforming cities into more equitable and sustainable places. The first solution is navigating intergovernmental dynamics. Cities cannot make the “just transition” on their own; they rely on state and federal governments for funding and policy decisions. Utilizing these unique dynamics and interactions in a city’s favor is the best approach for making meaningful change, and it means that each city’s transition and policies will differ.
The second approach in Hughes’ plan is strengthening collaborations and coalitions. She hopes that cities will “use coalition building as a governance strategy” to foster a network of advocates for policy plans and proposals, which will improve their implementation. One example of this is the Green Codes Task Force, which the New York City Council formed to work collaboratively on close to 100 bills to “green” the city building codes. Since it had a diverse network of supporters and collaborators, the codes “easily” passed through city council.
Hughes’ final strategy is building capacity for “justice-centered decision-making and planning” at the local level. She and her team have begun putting together racial justice resources and tools for urban adaptation planning to focus on inclusive, justice-oriented city development. “If we want these sustainability transformations to be justice centered, departments are going to need to learn how to work together,” Hughes said.
Hughes’ presentation stressed the importance of thinking about climate change and racial and economic inequality as connected issues in urban regions. “We can't afford urban climate solutions that don’t center justice and equity,” she said.