As
the new home of Arizona PIRG's environmental work, Environment Arizona
can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.
This
year’s unprecedented heat wave is part of a broader trend of rising
temperatures in Arizona, according to a new report released today by
the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG). The average
temperature in Phoenix is up 1.63° F since 2000 compared with the
previous three decades (1971-2000).
“Global warming is
happening, and Arizonans are feeling the heat,” said Diane E. Brown,
Executive Director of Arizona PIRG. “Temperatures will continue to rise
unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution
from power plants, cars, and SUVs,” continued Brown.
In the
continental United States, the first seven months of 2006 were the
warmest January-July of any year on record, according to the National
Climatic Data Center. In Arizona, the average temperature was 2.9° F
above the 20th century average, making it the 8th warmest January-July
on record.
To examine how these recent temperature patterns
compare with temperatures over the last 30 years, Arizona PIRG’s
researchers analyzed temperature data from 255 major weather stations
in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. for the years 2000-2005 and the
first six months of 2006. This recent data was compared to “normal”
temperatures for the three decades spanning 1971-2000. Key findings
include:
• Nationally, between 2000 and 2005, the average
temperature was above normal at 95% of the locations, indicating
widespread warming. In addition, nights are getting warmer; the
average minimum (nighttime low) temperature was above normal at 92% of
the locations examined.
• In Phoenix, between 2000 and 2005, the
average temperature was 1.6° F above normal. During the first six
months of 2006, the average temperature in Phoenix was 2.2° F above
normal.
• In Phoenix, between 2000 and 2005, the average minimum
(nighttime low) temperature was 2.2° F above normal. During the first
six months of 2006, the average minimum temperature in Phoenix was 2.1°
F above normal.
• In Phoenix, between 2000 and 2005, the
average maximum (daytime high) temperature was .7° F above normal.
During the first six months of 2006, the average maximum temperature in
Phoenix was 1.8° F above normal.
“Two or three degrees may not
seem like much, but just like in people, a small, relatively rapid
temperature rise can have serious consequences,” continued Brown.
Information provided by Arizona PIRG also pointed to numerous studies
showing that sea levels are already on the rise, ice and snow cover are
declining, and hurricanes are becoming more powerful. In Arizona,
unchecked global warming threatens to:
• cause serious future water shortages, as Arizona’s snow pack-fed rivers and streams dry up.
• cause more frequent and severe heat waves, which will increase deaths and illnesses from extreme heat.
• cause more frequent and extreme droughts, as warmer temperatures evaporate moisture in the soil more quickly.
To
avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the U.S. must stabilize
global warming emissions within the next decade, begin reducing them
soon thereafter, and cut emissions by 80% by the middle of this
century.
“The good news is that we already have the tools to
substantially reduce global warming pollution. We just have to put the
solutions to work,” said Brown.
In August, Arizona PIRG released
a report showing how the U.S. could cut global warming pollution by
nearly 20% by 2020 by making our homes, cars, and businesses more
efficient, switching to renewable energy sources, and giving Americans
more alternatives to driving, paired with strong, mandatory limits on
global warming emissions.
“These are win-win solutions
because they also will improve America’s long-term economy and energy
security by reducing U.S. dependence on oil and other fossil fuels,”
stated Brown.
“To protect future generations, Arizona PIRG
strongly urges members of the Arizona Congressional delegation to
cosponsor the Safe Climate Act, the long-term solution to global
warming,” concluded Brown.
