Summer 2024 in Albuquerque is on track to be one of the hottest on record — adding to a string of high temps in recent years that have packed a punch. But heat in the metro isn’t evenly distributed — it tends to be most intense in historically underserved areas, in part due to an urban heat island effect and a lack of trees.
The city and its partners like Tree New Mexico are working to level the playing field by planting more trees in such neighborhoods and in the process cool down the entire city.
The initiative joins other city efforts — including a pledge to add 100,000 trees across Albuquerque by 2030. So far, the city said a little over a quarter of that goal has been achieved.
Mitigating the higher temperatures is also important because heat islands produce more air pollution and higher energy costs and contribute to heat related illnesses and death, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .
“Trees are a crucial element to combat heat island effects,” said Dave Simon, the city’s Parks & Recreation Department director. “Not only do we need to maintain our urban tree canopy, we need to rebuild it and expand it in many places in the city.”