May Chapter Meeting--DepaveLA: Turning Pavement Into Plants For A Climate-Resilient LA

 DepaveLA: Turning Pavement Into Plants For A Climate-Resilient LA

Los Angeles County contains more than 312,000 acres (488 square miles) of pavement – an area larger than California’s largest city. Nearly half of this pavement may not be functionally necessary, suggesting a massive untapped opportunity to strengthen our climate resilience by targeting unneeded pavement for removal. Excess pavement directly contributes to extreme heat, stormwater runoff, flooding, and ecological degradation, with disproportionately severe impacts on frontline communities. As climate adaptation accelerates in LA County, removing unnecessary pavement is no longer a fringe idea but an urgent need.

On May 12th, our guest speaker Devon Provo from Accelerate Resilience LA (ARLA) will share the recently released DepaveLA report: the first-ever comprehensive pavement analysis to map every paved surface across LA County. This report responds to a growing ecological crisis and policy consensus: the time has come to depave paradise. If Los Angeles wants to reduce heat, manage water, expand tree canopy, and support public health and equity goals, we need a strategy for transforming pavement.

Depaving requires a fundamental shift in how we value and design urban land. In a region where pavement has long been synonymous with progress, DepaveLA urges us to remove excess pavement and allow the land to breathe, recharge, and sustain healthier, more resilient communities. Join us for a ground-breaking discussion on building a greener and more resilient Los Angeles!

Register here for the Zoom link.