Climate Science and Policy

This study examines the relationship between extreme heat events and violent crime in San Diego County, providing a climate action analysis that focuses on climate mitigation and crime prevention. Through a comprehensive analysis utilizing space-time hot spot analysis in ArcGIS Pro, the study explores the underlying mechanisms connecting extreme heat to violent crime. While the analysis did not reveal a significant correlation between high temperature days and increased incidence of violent crimes, it did identify areas for targeted interventions to reduce both extreme heat events and violent crime incidents. The analysis of the current City of San Diego 2022 Climate Action Plan suggests that actions promoting the creation of inviting and safe public spaces and increasing tree canopy coverage can have dual benefits in addressing climate change and crime prevention.