Highlights
- Washington D.C. based think tank Atlantic Council launched the Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance which aims to develop a worldwide standard for naming and ranking heat waves
- People who work outdoors, low-income residences without proper air conditioning, people without homes, and people with health conditions are vulnerable to heatwaves
- Duke University researchers estimated that during the last decade, the Lower 48 states averaged 12,000 heat-related premature deaths per year
- Major U.S. cities are experiencing three times as many heat waves as they did in the 1960s, with a heatwave season that is 47 days longer
- There is a lower perception of risk in the Northern States, among people over the age of 65, and among white men
- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is also helping to create standards for heatwaves:
“In policymaking, we have to grab people’s attention…We know that naming heat waves will provide clear levels of that risk, and more adequate warning to protect our most vulnerable Californians.”
Scientists are increasingly warning that to avoid catastrophic impacts from climate change, the world’s governments must implement massive reductions of warming emissions and begin a drawdown of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the atmosphere over the decade ahead. For a safe and healthy future for all, endorse the Climate-Safe California Platform to implement scalable solutions that can reverse the climate crisis.
Nina Turner
Energy Programs and Communications CoordinatorJanina is a graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University with experience in non-profits that specialize in sustainability and volunteerism.
