<p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What if the most powerful climate solution isn’t in some distant technology — but growing right above your head?</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty sits down with Joshua Harrison, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Leaf Island, to explore how green roofs and nature-based design can radically reshape the way we live in cities.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">With more than 80% of Americans living in urban areas, rising heat, pollution, and climate vulnerability are intensifying. But Harrison explains how integrating nature into our built environment — from rooftops to walls — can cool cities, absorb carbon, reduce energy costs, and create healthier spaces for everyone.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">🌿 Inside the episode:</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Why green roofs are one of the most effective tools for fighting the urban heat island effect</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• How plants use evapotranspiration to naturally cool entire neighborhoods</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• The innovative way Leaf Island turns styrofoam waste into lightweight soil</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• What cities like Singapore, Paris, and Mexico City can teach the U.S. about urban greening</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• The surprising financial incentives for building owners</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• How green infrastructure can extend roof life, reduce emissions, and support biodiversity</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Harrison's message is simple and powerful: Cities don’t need to choose between modernity and nature — they can (and must) embrace both.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This conversation reveals a future where green roofs are not a luxury, but a standard part of urban resilience and climate adaptation.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">👉 Learn more about Leaf Island</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://leafisland.org</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">👉 Subscribe for more discussions on climate, politics &amp; social justice.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://youtube.com/@leantotheleft</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">CHAPTERS:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">00:00 Introduction to the Lean to the Left Podcast</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">00:10 The Environmental Challenge of Urban Heat</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">00:52 Introducing Joshua Harrison and Leaf Island</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">01:38 The Concept and Benefits of Green Roofs</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">03:17 Transforming Urban Spaces with Green Infrastructure</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">08:23 Challenges and Solutions for Existing Buildings</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">19:27 Global Examples of Green Infrastructure</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">21:49 Incentives and Benefits for Building Owners</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">24:08 Political and Environmental Perspectives</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">27:59 The Center for the Study of Force Majeure</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(40, 40, 40); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">30:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts</span></p>