The Plants Above Your Head: How Green Roofs Can Reshape Urban Living

What if the most powerful climate solution isn’t in some distant technology — but growing right above your head? 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. 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. 🌿 Inside the episode: • Why green roofs are one of the most effective tools for fighting the urban heat island effect • How plants use evapotranspiration to naturally cool entire neighborhoods • The innovative way Leaf Island turns styrofoam waste into lightweight soil • What cities like Singapore, Paris, and Mexico City can teach the U.S. about urban greening • The surprising financial incentives for building owners • How green infrastructure can extend roof life, reduce emissions, and support biodiversity Harrison's message is simple and powerful: Cities don’t need to choose between modernity and nature — they can (and must) embrace both. This conversation reveals a future where green roofs are not a luxury, but a standard part of urban resilience and climate adaptation. 👉 Learn more about Leaf Island https://leafisland.org 👉 Subscribe for more discussions on climate, politics & social justice. https://youtube.com/@leantotheleft CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to the Lean to the Left Podcast 00:10 The Environmental Challenge of Urban Heat 00:52 Introducing Joshua Harrison and Leaf Island 01:38 The Concept and Benefits of Green Roofs 03:17 Transforming Urban Spaces with Green Infrastructure 08:23 Challenges and Solutions for Existing Buildings 19:27 Global Examples of Green Infrastructure 21:49 Incentives and Benefits for Building Owners 24:08 Political and Environmental Perspectives 27:59 The Center for the Study of Force Majeure 30:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts