- Co-Chair, New York City Panel on Climate Change (2019 - Present)
- Health & Safety Sector Advisor, New York State Climate Impacts Assessment (2022 - 2023)
- Member, Climate Advisory Committee, Trust for Governors Island (2022 - 2023)
- Member, Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, Chicago Department of Public Health (2021 - 2022)
- Co-Director, Environmental Justice and Climate Just Cities Network, The Earth Institute (2020 - 2023)
- Member, Committee for the Conference on Education, American Meteorological Society (2020 - 2022)
- Co-Lead, Climate and Environmental Health Group, Goddard Applied Sciences (2020 - 2021)
- Principal Investigator, Climate Change Research Initiative, Goddard Institute for Space Studies (2018 - 2022
Christian V Braneon
(RSCH AST, EARTH SCIENCES REMOTE SENS)
| Email: | christian.v.braneon@nasa.gov |
| Org Code: | 611 |
| Address: |
NASA/GISS Mail Code 611 New York, NY 10025 |
| Employer: |
Professional Service
Professional Societies
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
1999 - Present
Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN)
2017 - Present
American Meteorological Society (AMS)
2019 - 2023
Awards
AXA Award for Climate Science | 2021
Robert H. Goddard Honor Award | 2021 Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) Team
Team Excellence Award | 2019 Earth Science Partnerships Team, NASA Headquarters
Public Participation Award | White House Climate Action Plan
Grants
COVID-19 Seasonality and Relationship to Social Vulnerability in Indiana - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research - Awarded: 2020-07-01
Dates: 2020-07-01 - 2021-07-31
Amount 15,000
Integrating Racial Equity and Climate Justice into Urban Planning and Design - Columbia University - Awarded: 2020-11-01
Dates: 2020-11-01 - 2021-10-31
Amount 10,000
Environmental Justice and Climate Just Cities Network - The Earth Institute | Columbia University - Awarded: 2020-11-01
Dates: 2020-11-01 - 2023-10-31
Amount 50,000
Quantification of Historic and Future Changes in Atlantic Coastal Marshes and Implications for Global Modeling - NASA, Headquarters, Science Mission Directorate, Earth Science (NNH20ZDA001N-OBB) - Awarded: 2020-11-12
Dates: 2021-06-01 - 2024-05-31
Amount 540,000
NPCC-Climate School Fellows Program - The Climate School | Columbia University - Awarded: 2021-10-29
Dates: 2021-11-01 - 2022-10-31
Amount 5,000
Education
PhD in Civil Engineering | Georgia Institute of Technology
MS in Civil Engineering | Georgia Institute of Technology
BS in Civil Engineering | Georgia Institute of Technology
BS in Applied Physics | Morehouse College
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Invited
8th Annual UMD Symposium on Environmental Justice & Health Disparities
September 2022
The first UMD EJ Symposium (as it is informally known) took place on Saturday, December 1, 2012 and was organized by Dr. Sacoby Wilson with support from Mustafa Santiago Ali (then Associate Director of the US EPA Office of Environmental Justice) and Leslie Fields (National Environmental Justice Director for the Sierra Club). While specific topics and sessions vary from year to year, the conference’s overarching focus remains on environmental justice issues (and actions) relevant to the DMV region and beyond. The Symposium theme for 2022 was “Energy vs. Power: Visions for the Future.” Dr. Christian Braneon spoke and participated on a panel during the "ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, REDLINING, AND URBAN HEAT ISLANDS" session. Studies have shown that in nearly every major city in the U.S., BIPOC communities are exposed to more extreme urban heat than White people. Expanses of concrete and reduced canopy cover lead to concentrated heat in urban centers, producing what is known as the “urban heat island effect.” Because of this phenomenon, and the concept of segregated housing stock, cities can vary wildly in temperature on a block by block basis, with the burden of extreme heat falling upon vulnerable communities. In this session, panelists discussed how decades of racist and discriminatory practices and development inequities including redlining have left neighborhoods of color and low-income communities vulnerable to heat and rising temperatures. Panelists discussed the unequal burden of urban heat for communities with environmental justice issues including the lack of salutogenic and climate resilient infrastructure and what actions can be taken to alleviate this burden. In addition, panelists discussed what adaptation and mitigation strategies have been used to address the impacts of and transform urban heat islands. They also discussed some of the best practices that cities and metropolitan regions across the country have used to increase the resilience of populations at risk from heat-related morbidity and mortality.
The 47th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop
August 2022
The Researchers Meeting was organized by the International Sociological Association Research Committee on Disasters (ISA-RC39) with the support of the Natural Hazards Center and the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) CONVERGE facility at the University of Colorado Boulder. Kathryn McConnell (PhD candidate at Yale) and Dr. Christian Braneon presented their ongoing research on "Social Stratification of the Built Environment" during the Social Vulnerability and Disaster-Related Disparities session.
2022 Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research (ABMR) Meeting
July 2022
The theme of the 2022 meeting was “Healthy Aging Across the Lifespan: The Impact of Socioeconomic Status.” Disparities in health have been widely documented and are accepted to reflect social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. These preventable disparities disproportionately affect groups of people who systematically experience greater obstacles to health based on their socioeconomic status. The conference examined environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological factors that contribute to lifelong disparities in health and emerging public health challenges. Drawing on the deep expertise of ABMR members, symposium and discussion topics focused on socioeconomic determinants of health, including poverty in early life, environmental exposures, intersectionality and racial health inequity, biological and neurocognitive aging, health behaviors, and implications for intervention and public policy.
Climate and Environmental Justice in Harlem
May 22, 2022
Growing risks of rising temperatures, more intense storms and a history of environmental injustice continue to generate disproportionate climate impacts in communities like Harlem. Local researchers, elected officials and community leaders came together for panel discussions presented by Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Columbia University and City College of New York hosted by NYC & Company’s Sustainable Tourism Committee.
11th Annual Climate Symposium | SUMASA
May 8, 2022
The event addressed how today’s sustainability leaders break away from business-as-usual scenarios through thought-provoking keynotes, informative panels, and solutions-oriented conversations. The Applying Advanced Analytics to Sustainable Solutions panel explored how advanced analytics has been a disruptive force to finding sustainable solutions in various industries. We discussed what key elements are required to integrate these approaches, how to engage all stakeholders, and how modeling has benefited specific projects the panelists have worked on.
Learning in the World: Opportunities for the Students of 2040
May 2022
This seminar sponsored the National Science Foundation and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine focused on creating learning experiences grounded in real-world elements and opportunities. Presentations from students and educators–as well as contributions from participants–provided examples of diverse student learning experiences that leverage lived experience, and how we can design authentic experiences for undergraduates to prepare problem solvers, leaders, and innovators to tackle the multi-faceted problems facing our world. We also discussed approaches to design accessible and engaging real-world student experiences on our campuses.
Heat Mapping Project: Community-Wide Results Release Event
February 13, 2022
In 2021, South Bronx Unite collaborated with researchers from Columbia University to visualize extreme heat in the South Bronx and Northern Manhattan. Extreme heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the US, and Black Americans die at disproportionately higher rates than others. The South Bronx community is no exception to this trend as it suffers from the compounding effects of extreme heat, pollution, and lack of green space all the while climate change looms as a threat multiplier. At this meeting co-hosted by South Bronx Unite and Columbia University, we discussed extreme heat and its links to our community members' health.
Vice President Harris Visits NASA to See Vital Climate Science Work
December 2021
NASA, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and USGS, is among the federal agencies that conduct climate research and provide climate data critical for agencies and organizations worldwide. Extreme weather and climate events – including droughts, floods, and wildfires – are becoming regular occurrences. Insights from space help us study our planet as a unified system to understand these phenomena and benefit people where they live. The vice president received a firsthand look at how the nation’s space program studies climate change and provides crucial information to understand our planet’s changes and their impacts on our lives. She met with scientists and engineers to discuss how NASA’s broad portfolio of Earth science missions helps address the climate challenges facing our world.
Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: The Path Forward
November 25, 2021
This virtual and in-person event was anchored from the Nasdaq in New York City and brought together leaders in business, government, academia, and a lot more, who are shaping and defining new dynamics and driving positive change in business and society as a whole.
2021 Resilient Nation Partnership Network (RNPN) Annual Forum
November 20, 2021
Now, more than ever, partnerships are critical to becoming a more resilient nation. Actions we take now will make a difference as we adapt to, and mitigate, the impacts of climate change. The Resilient Nation Partnership Network is committed to taking collaborative action and is proud to announce the Sixth Annual Partnership Forum, "Alliances for Climate Action", in partnership with FEMA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The theme for October 20 was Stories to Inspire Climate Action. We heard diverse stories and perspectives from amazing individuals and how they found their place as a leader addressing climate change.
Back to Earth: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation with NASA
November 14, 2021
Future Cities Canada, the national cross-sector initiative designed to accelerate innovation to transform cities, presents its final virtual gathering on October 13 - 15, 2021, as part of Future Cities Canada: The Summit. This session explores how satellite data and other cutting-edge programs developed by NASA are helping municipalities and corporations make better on the ground decisions towards climate change adaptation and mitigation. Dr. Christian V. Braneon, Remote Sensing Specialist at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and Dr. Lesley E. Ott, Climate Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center discuss the new tools and technologies that have been developed over the years, and how they are being used to advance major innovations in climate science.
Global Maritime Forum
October 2021
Organized and executed by the Science and Technology Department (S&T) on behalf of the Director, NIM-Maritime, the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) was a three-day workshop designed to stimulate discussion and action on solutions to complex issues of technology and its effects on national maritime policy.
Eyes on Earth Episode 55 – Urban Heat Islands of New York
August 26, 2021
Eyes on Earth is a podcast on remote sensing, Earth observation, land change and science, brought to you by the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. Landsat satellites collect data on surface temperature and vegetative change that can help cities mitigate the heat stresses for residents, especially in a warming climate. For this episode of Eyes on Earth, we hear about how a mapping project involving Landsat data helped the New York City Council identify urban heat islands.
Post-COVID Cities: Reinventing World Cities
July 10, 2021
“Reinventing Global Cities” was the second in a series of three high-profile events titled Post-COVID Cities, which focuses on the future of New York City following the pandemic. During this program, participants learned how other global cities currently emerging from the pandemic are positioning themselves to reach aspirational social goals while implementing 21st-century zero-carbon policies.
Future Streets: Lessons & Paths Forward from Open Streets
June 10, 2021
A conversation with community leaders, designers, advocates, and policymakers to discuss the future of Open Streets in New York City. Emily Weidenhof (NYC DOT) and Erick Gregory (NYC City Planning) joined as respondents in conversation with Dr. Christian Braneon to discuss: what lessons can we draw from last summer’s Open Streets to catalyze creative street uses? This event was co-hosted by Columbia University Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes, Transportation Alternatives, the Urban Design Forum, Van Alen Institute, and Columbia Environmental Justice and Climate Just Cities Network.
Towards Climate Justice and Equitable Adaptation
June 6, 2021
The UW Environmental and Occupational Health Seminar is a department-sponsored seminar series for students, staff and faculty; practicing professionals in the environmental and occupational health fields; and the public. This seminar highlights the rich diversity of the department and is an opportunity to hear from locally, nationally and internationally known scientists, practitioners and policymakers on issues of current scientific importance. The University of Washington’s School of Public Health houses several different disciplinary specialties, including toxicology, exposure science, one health, occupational health, and occupational and environmental medicine.
Expert Meeting | National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
December 2020
Although climate change will have a significant impact on the cities of the future, traditional demographic and health behavioral data and demographic methods are insufficient to fully understand the consequences of these changes for the health and well-being of city dwellers. To explore this further, an small expert planning meeting was held to identify directions for a larger NASEM activity that would bring together the downscale climate modeling research community, climate and health researchers, demographers, public health practitioners, and policy planners to advance the methodologies through which modelers study future temperature extremes and related-health risks, the urban environment, population vulnerability, and health/mortality outcomes.
Climate Justice in NYC: A Discussion with Climate Change and Environmental Justice Leaders
October 2020
A conversation about how NYC as a city will advance its climate and environmental justice agendas in the short, medium and long term. This session was presented by Tishman Environment and Design Center
Extreme Heat, COVID, & Equity in New York City
July 2020
The Cary Institute organized a science conversation in June of 2020 featuring Emily Nobel Maxwell, Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Cities Program in New York, Christian Braneon, a Remote Sensing Specialist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Annel Hernandez, Associate Director of the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, and Timon McPhearson, Director of the Urban Systems Lab and a Cary Institute Senior Research Fellow.
Leveraging Our Strengths: An Open Call for Science, Advocacy, and Design
July 2020
This AIA New York event presented the 2020 NYC Environmental Justice Alliance’s Climate Justice Agenda, followed by a response from climate scientists, designers, and urban planning experts. Discussions focused on key challenges and opportunities to protect vulnerable communities against the upcoming 2020 hurricane and heat wave season, as New York deals with successive waves of the COVID-19.
The Future We Don't Want: A Call for Transformative Action
June 13, 2019
In conjunction with Design Pavilion, Design Talks is a fascinating and culturally relevant conversation and story series featuring architecture, design, art and civic visionaries and creative leaders. In its fifth year, the program returned in 2019 with a full-day kick off, the Design Talks Impact Summit, a forum for all industries committed to designing a sustainable and circular future. Dr. Christian Braneon shared some of the unique risks that climate change poses to cities and urban responses to those risks through case study examples from real-world experiences.
Chongming World-class Eco-island Forum 2018
September 2018
Chongming Island, located in the mouth of the Yangtze River across from Shanghai, China, was both the topic and site of a scientific forum organized by East China Normal University (ECNU) and Columbia University August 6–8. Eight scientists from the Earth Institute at Columbia University attended the forum, together with Adam Parris, executive director of the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRI@JB) and Dr. Christian Braneon of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS).
Other
Selected Publications
Refereed
2024. "NPCC4: Tail risk, climate drivers of extreme heat, and new methods for extreme event projections." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences [10.1111/nyas.15180] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Building Risk‐Informed Communities: Case Studies on the Applications of Earth Observation Data." Geophysical Monograph Series 119-132 [10.1002/9781119536789.ch7] [Article in Book]
2022. "Sea Level Rise and City-Level Climate Action." European Journal of Environment and Public Health 6 (2): em0111 [10.21601/ejeph/12046] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Embedding Climate Change in Urban Planning and Urban Design in New York City." Urban Climate Science for Planning Healthy Cities 45-70 [10.1007/978-3-030-87598-5_3] [Article in Book]
2022. "A quasi-experimental approach for evaluating the heat mitigation effects of green roofs in Chicago, Illinois." Sustainable Cities and Society 76 103376 [10.1016/j.scs.2021.103376] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Adaptation to climate change in coastal towns of between 10,000 and 50,000 inhabitants." Ocean & Coastal Management 212 105790 [10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105790] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Towards Disentangling Lockdown-Driven Air Quality Changes in the Northeastern U.S." Journal of Extreme Events 2150017 [10.1142/s2345737621500172] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Spatiotemporal Associations Between Social Vulnerability, Environmental Measurements, and COVID‐19 in the Conterminous United States." GeoHealth 5 (8): [10.1029/2021gh000423] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Rapid Research and Assessment on COVID-19 and Climate in New York City." Journal of Extreme Events 2150010 [10.1142/s234573762150010x] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Opinion: Compound risks and complex emergencies require new approaches to preparedness." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118 (19): e2106795118 [10.1073/pnas.2106795118] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Evaluating Drought Responses of Surface Ozone Precursor Proxies: Variations With Land Cover Type, Precipitation, and Temperature." Geophysical Research Letters 48 (7): [10.1029/2020gl091520] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Earth Observations Informing Cities’ Operations and Planning." Eos 101 [10.1029/2020eo146808] [Journal Article/Letter]
Non-Refereed
2024. "NPCC4: Climate risk and equity—advancing knowledge toward a sustainable future | Conclusions." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences [10.1111/nyas.15150] [Journal Article/Letter]
2024. "NPCC4: Climate risk and equity—advancing knowledge toward a sustainable future | Introduction." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences [10.1111/nyas.15149] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Chapter 4.2 States and cities for climate action. [In America's Zero Carbon Action Plan]." America's Zero Carbon Action Plan 122-161 [Report]