Equitable Climate Resilience: A GIS Approach to Protecting Vulnerable Communities with Nature-based Solutions

Document Type

Presentation

Date of Original Version

3-27-2026

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and climate change are increasing exposure to environmental hazards in populated areas worldwide. These hazards include reduced air quality, flooding, water pollution, and urban heat island effects. Vulnerable communities, particularly those with lower socioeconomic status, are more susceptible to these environmental impacts due to limited adaptive capacity or exclusion from mitigation strategies. Historically, climate mitigation efforts have lacked equitable procedures in their implementation and distribution. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as bioretention, urban tree canopy, and parks, are important low-cost strategies to combat climate-related hazards while emphasizing sustainability. This research aims to develop an equitable approach to implementing NbS in Providence, Rhode Island (RI), that is scalable across all major U.S. cities. The project utilizes GIS-based suitability analysis to map locations of opportunity and need for NbS, incorporating criteria based on land-cover, environmental hazard datasets, and proximity to existing NbS. Suitable locations for NbS will be overlaid with a block-group-level social vulnerability index (SVI) that accounts for population demographics, public health, and household characteristics. The suitability analysis, in conjunction with the SVI, will identify potential NbS locations in vulnerable neighborhoods to address environmental risks and provide distributional equity within our study site. Governing bodies and organizations from other communities can use this novel methodology to identify NbS implementation sites that support inclusive community climate resilience. This research contributes to the NSF-funded Equitable Nature-based Climate Solutions project, which aims to engage communities in optimizing the equitable placement of NbS.

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