New Study Highlights How Working with Vulnerable Communities Can Enhance Climate Resilience in Tucson
The paper by Associate Professor Adriana Zuniga-Teran looks at the structure of greening programs in Tucson and compares their implementation with preferences of marginalized residents.
A new study led by University of Arizona Associate Professor Adriana Zuniga-Teran calls for a more equitable approach to urban greening—one that recognizes the needs, perspectives, and lived experiences of vulnerable communities.
The paper, published in the journal Geoforum and titled “Beyond Native Plants: Aligning Greening Programs with Disadvantaged Communities’ Landscape Needs for More Equitable Green Infrastructure Planning,” examines how greening programs in Tucson can better serve vulnerable neighborhoods while demonstrating how more equitable implementation can make such programs more effective and impactful.
As global temperatures rise, urban residents become increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather. “In cities, the natural landscape has been replaced by impervious surfaces that enhance heat and flooding,” said Zuniga-Teran. “Greening programs,” she explains, “aim to reduce impervious surfaces and allow natural processes like the refilling of underground aquifers through infiltration to happen while sustaining vegetation and trees,” which, in turn, helps reduce heat and flooding.
Though poorer residents tend to be more vulnerable to weather-related hazards, the study found that the benefits of green infrastructure – such as improved air quality, cooler temperatures, and reduced flood risk – often accrue more readily in wealthier neighborhoods. “This distributional inequity has multiple facets related to procedural justice,” Zuniga-Teran explained. Wealthy residents are more likely to know about the programs, understand how to apply for them, and be better connected to local networks. “They may also participate in planning meetings where these programs are designed,” she says. “This means that their priorities for greening are more likely to be heard by municipalities and planners.”
The paper argues that recognizing the perspectives of historically underserved residents is a crucial step toward procedural and distributive justice in the implementation of greening programs. “The municipality is not one entity, but the sum of several governmental organizations that each have their own set of priorities,” Zuniga-Teran said. At times, these priorities may not align with those of the residents the programs are intended to serve. “If the existing greening programs do not align with low-income communities’ situation or needs, then these programs will not be adopted in low-income areas, making them more vulnerable to climate change and enhancing inequities in the distribution of resources.”
The study’s findings draw from community workshops conducted on Tucson’s south side—an area that experiences higher temperatures, more flooding, and has fewer trees than other parts of the city. “The City of Tucson recognizes these inequities and has launched greening programs that aim to address them,” Zuniga-Teran said. For example, the Storm to Shade program managed by Tucson Water distributes funding equally between the city’s Wards and prioritizes greening in less-vegetated areas within each. Plus, says Zuniga-Teran, the utility “even commits to maintain these projects in perpetuity, addressing the biggest barrier for greening…This is a very innovative approach to greening, making Tucson a national leader.”
Despite those gains, she noted, “the southside of Tucson is still less vegetated than the rest of the city, and its proximity to the freeway, airport, military base, and industry makes it hotter and more vulnerable to flooding.” Zuniga-Teran points out that “more resources are needed to reduce vulnerability in this area.”
To ensure more inclusive outcomes, Zuniga-Teran emphasized that outreach must be designed with the realities of low-income residents in mind. “Low-income residents may not be able to participate (in listening sessions) during the week, for example, because of work responsibilities. Other factors that may impede their participation include transportation issues, childcare needs, or loss of income. Therefore, outreach efforts need to be designed with all of these challenges in mind to effectively reach low-income residents.”
Zuniga-Teran also stressed the importance of community partnerships. “To effectively engage communities, it is important to partner with local organizations that already have ties to the community. These can be religious organizations, schools, and non-profits that work closely with local residents,” she said.
By centering underserved voices, the study argues, cities like Tucson can build programs that not only cool streets and capture stormwater—but also cultivate fairness, trust, and long-term climate resilience across all neighborhoods.
Link to the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104393