Dr. Michael Méndez

Member Scholar Michael Méndez @mikemendezphd.bsky.social of UC Irvine was quoted in an Inside Climate News article about LGBTQ+ Americans organizing for climate justice and extreme weather disaster protections.

Excellent piece by climate writer @audreygray.bsky.social !

insideclimatenews.org/news/2007202...

socialecology.uci.edu/news/mendez-...

Member Scholar @mikemendezphd.bsky.social of @ucirvine.bsky.social says another way to prepare for more heat waves is by thinking about shade. He says communities are planting more trees to cool urban areas down. @npr.org @wamu.org

Listen on NPR. 👉 www.npr.org/transcripts/...

Michael Mendez, an environmental policy professor at the University of California, Irvine, says another way to prepare for more heat waves is by thinking about shade. He says communities are planting more trees to cool urban areas down. www.npr.org/2025/06/26/n...

Federal recommendations would also help California enforce its rules for keeping workers safe in smokey conditions, said Michael Méndez, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, who studies how wildfire smoke affects vineyard workers. The state law requires employers to take different steps depending on how bad the air is, based on an official air quality index. That can be “ripe for misinformation, with employers telling workers it is safe to go out without a mask or keeping workers out there,” Méndez said. https://www.eenews.net/articles/when-the-smoke-came-federal-experts-were-gone/

www.eenews.net/articles/whe.... Federal recommendations would also help California enforce its rules, said Mendez.

Delighted to be on a panel and event with PBS Newshour anchors Judy Woodruff, Lisa Desjardins, and Ca Secretary of Natural Resources on “Wildfire Resilience.”

grist.org/equity/natio...

So sad. I was also on NCA 6

Our new research memo on “Improving tribal consultation on land use, environmental projects.” socialecology.uci.edu/news/improvi...

National Weather Service halts automated translation for alerts The pause could affect the millions of Americans who speak a language other than English at home, at a time when climate change is exacerbating extreme weather.

www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...

“Disasters disproportionately impact vulnerable people — including those who do not speak English as a first language,” said Michael Méndez. Disasters are amplified due to language barriers & not receiving access to vital information, such as weather alerts & evacuation orders.

@scholars.org thanks! How do I get involved with the network?

Wonderful time speaking at the German Red Cross’ panel on 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Disaster Management.

Had an amazing time at Occidental College’s critical environmental justice series! Thank you for the invitation!

www.nationalacademies.org/news/2025/03...

Science can support communities impacted by the #LAWildfires.

Today at 1pm ET, we’re hosting #ClimateConversations Urban Fires to explore fire impacts on #Health, infrastructure, and other human systems. @mikemendezphd.bsky.social

Tune in: buff.ly/41j4AxW

https://www.eltimpano.org/english/labor/new-rules-aim-to-protect-california-farmworkers-after-extreme-heat-cut-last-years-work-short/

www.eltimpano.org/english/labo...

Yes! On that website above. Thanks!

@danielle-rivera.bsky.social @andrewrumbach.bsky.social @dis

Happening now! Join us! mailchi.mp/nationalacad...

“Communities that are low-income are not able to prepare or safeguard from these disasters because they’re not being provided with adequate resources to do so,” Mendez said. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

www.kqed.org/news/1202586...

@andrewrumbach.bsky.social @disastersradix.bsky.social @jds-disasters.bsky.social @disastersdecon.bsky.social

www.npr.org/2025/01/31/n...

www.npr.org/2025/02/03/n...

This is almost like a complete alternate universe…

Thanks for joining us!

This morning I & others in @mikemendezphd.bsky.social Climate Lab joined the @nationalacademies.org to discuss the Climate Crossroads initiative, specifically ways to engage diverse stakeholders in future conversations. www.nationalacademies.org/ccx/climate-...

Getting less attention than the broader messaging about FEMA, but this is really significant. I've known quite a few committee members over the years who bring vital local and state expertise to headquarters. A real loss of perspective for the organization...