NASA Awards Funding for Project GREEN to Tackle Environmental Justice in Charlotte, NC

NASA has awarded funding to RTI International for Project GREEN: Greenspace and Remote Sensing for the Environment and Equity in Neighborhoods, a groundbreaking initiative to address environmental justice issues in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Kibri Hutchison Everett, Principal of Key Environmental Consulting, will serve as the project’s Principal Investigator, leading efforts to co-develop innovative tools that empower underserved communities to address the impacts of urbanization and greenspace distribution. 

Project GREEN investigates the effects of land cover and land use changes, specifically urbanization and greenspace, on health and equity in historically marginalized neighborhoods. In Charlotte, as in many U.S. cities, inequitable distribution of greenspaces and tree canopy exacerbates urban heat exposure, which has increased by nearly 200% globally since the 1980s. Historically redlined neighborhoods often experience significantly higher temperatures, along with other environmental and health disparities. 

Using open remote sensing data from NASA and socio-economic, demographic, and environmental equity data from other sources, the project will develop a tool to help community members, planners, and advocates understand the impacts of greenspace interventions. The tool will incorporate NASA’s spectral and thermal remote sensing assets, alongside advanced machine learning models, to analyze how changes in greenspace affect urban heat and health outcomes. By integrating socio-demographic data, the project will prioritize communities most in need of greenspace interventions. 

A key feature of Project GREEN is its user-centered design approach. Through collaboration with community partners, the project will co-develop a spatial tool to identify areas where greenspace interventions can have the greatest impact. The tool will provide actionable insights, allowing users to visualize scenarios of greenspace interventions in an accessible format and understand their socio-demographic and environmental impacts. 

"Project GREEN is about more than just data," Everett explained. "It’s about making sure the communities most affected by environmental inequities are involved in shaping the solutions. By working closely with community members, we ensure the tool reflects their lived experiences and needs." 

RTI International leads the project with support from Key Environmental Consulting and a diverse team of scientists and community members. This collaborative approach integrates cutting-edge technology with community engagement, offering a model for addressing environmental justice issues across urban areas.