Which streets have more shade? Or a drinking fountain? Now, residents in Barcelona have an app that can give you all the answers.
This app, Cool Walks, which only maps one neighborhood in Barcelona to date, uses a tool called Lidar to create a high resolution of ground elevation that is combined with sun data to figure out where the shady places are.
With the planet getting hotter, heat waves harm people more than any other climate risk. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 11,000 Americans died from heat-related causes since 1979. Some populations, like seniors over 65 or people with respiratory(呼吸的) issues, are easily influenced by heat.
Today, heatwaves affect 200 million people in more than 350 cities around the world. Barcelona is just one of them. If the Paris agreement’s 1.5℃ climate change goal is not met, even more people will be impacted by the rising temperatures.
Barcelona is already working on ways to help ease the effects of global warming. The city created a 20-year Tree Master Plan, in 2017, to increase the proportion of land covered by trees from 25 percent to 35 percent and to provide residents with a green infrastructure(基础设施) and quality public spaces. Parks with trees are full of shade.
“Trees and broader green infrastructure are the most advanced technology known for easing the impact of our densifying and rapidly heating cities. City leaders should make that their priority in the first instance,” said Jon Burke.
This app is a good way for people to be able to function in a hotter city while long-term solutions like tree planting, reducing the number of cars on the roads, and green infrastructure are being carried out. Every city around the globe should have one.
8. What does the third paragraph mainly deal with?
A.The planet getting hotter. | B.The harm of climate risk. |
C.The effect of heat waves. | D.The health of the seniors. |
9. What’s the aim to mention the Paris agreement?
A.To show it is important. | B.To show it is well received. |
C.To show most people obey it. | D.To show it’s tough to carry out. |
10. Why was a 20-year Tree Master Plan made?
A.To draw people’s attention. | B.To improve living conditions. |
C.To reduce the use of electricity. | D.To create more public spaces. |
11. What is Jon Burke’s attitude to planting more tress?
A.Favorable. | B.Objective. | C.Doubtful. | D.Critical. |