Anusha Pandey
Anusha Pandey (she/her) in her role as an SCSC worked with Data-Driven Envirolab this summer. Her work focused on mapping pocket-green spaces in Nepal to better understand the vital role they play in mitigating urban heat islands.
Report
Urban green spaces, particularly pocket green areas like parks and gardens, play a vital role in mitigating Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects. They achieve this by reducing overall temperatures of the environment, bolstering urban resilience, and improving air circulation. Our research focuses on these green spaces’ potential as UHI mitigators, highlighting their cooling impact and emphasizing their strategic placement in densely populated urban areas. We highlight how factors such as land cover, industrialization, and urbanization contribute to UHI intensity. Despite their compact size, PGS provide essential ecosystem services and contribute to cooling efforts. We also stress the importance of community involvement in urban planning and climate resilience, recognizing it as a crucial component of effective climate action. In conclusion, our study offers valuable insights into countering UHI effects and promoting urban sustainability through green spaces and community engagement.
Community Engagement Initiative
Anusha’s CEI brought together community members in Kathmandu to discuss Nepal’s climate commitments and understand the role citizens play in shaping our climate futures. See the groups reflections in her community engagement report: Environmental Commitments, Empowering Responsibility.
Read Anusha’s Blog: The Power of Social Connectedness: Unlocking Effective Climate Commitments
Bio
Anusha Pandey (she/her) is a researcher from Nepal working on social inclusion, climate action, and sustainable urban planning. With a Master’s degree in environmental science, coupled with expertise in geospatial approaches and remote sensing data, Anusha is determined to create greener, more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable cities. Over the years, she has investigated how citizen science, young researchers, mobile technology and remote sensing can be utilized in Nepal to reveal a more detailed spatial and temporal understanding of these systems.
Keywords
Urban green spaces, Pocket green spaces (PGS), Urban Heat Island (UHI) mitigation, Temperature reduction, Urban resilience, Strategic placement, Land cover impact, Community involvement, Climate resilience strategies