Identifying the Most Severe Impact Zones: No Haven in the US from the Climate Crisis
The US faces an undeniable climate crisis as the impacts of a rapidly warming climate intensify nationwide A new report reveals the severity of the situation, predicting worsening conditions over the next decade due to rising planet-warming pollution
According to a recent report from federal agencies, the impact of a rapidly warming climate is being felt nationwide and is projected to worsen in the next decade due to ongoing fossil fuel usage. The Fifth National Climate Assessment, a report that is required by Congress approximately every five years, highlighted that although carbon emissions in the US are gradually declining, the rate of reduction is insufficient to meet national targets or align with the United Nations' objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Scientists warn that exceeding this threshold will pose significant challenges to life on Earth.
This year's assessment highlights the fact that American citizens are now more aware and experiencing firsthand the effects of climate change in their local areas, as stated by Katharine Hayhoe, a renowned climate scientist from Texas Tech University who contributed to the report.
Hayhoe informed CNN that climate change is having an impact on all aspects of our lives.
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While certain conclusions from the reports may sound familiar, there are also noteworthy new findings. It is now possible for scientists to confidently determine the influence of the climate crisis on the strength and frequency of rainstorms, hurricanes, and wildfires, as well as the severity of long-term drought and the heightened fatality risks associated with heat.
Rick Curtis, right, pumps water out of his basement and onto the muddy street in front of his home in Barre, Vermont, in July 2023.
In 2023, the Phoenix area experienced a scorching heatwave, with a remarkable 31 consecutive days surpassing 110 degrees. This relentless heat contributed to over 500 heat-related fatalities in Maricopa County, making it the deadliest year for heat recorded in the region.
In July, parts of Vermont were engulfed in deadly floodwaters caused by torrential rainstorm. Shortly after, Maui was devastated by a fast-moving wildfire and Floridas Gulf Coast experienced its second major hurricane in two years.
President Joe Biden is set to deliver remarks on Tuesday, where he is expected to announce over $6 billion in funding aimed at enhancing climate resilience. This will be accomplished by strengthening Americas electric grid, investing in water infrastructure upgrades, reducing flood risk to communities, and promoting environmental justice for all, as stated by an administration official.
White House senior climate advisor John Podesta stated that the United States requires a massive and unprecedented transformation of the global economy in order to ensure a sustainable future for both ourselves and our generations to come.
Its easier to pinpoint which disasters were made worse by climate change
The most recent report reveals a significant breakthrough in the field of "attribution science"—scientists are now able to clearly demonstrate the direct influence of climate change on extreme weather events, ranging from heatwaves and droughts to hurricanes and intense rainstorms.
TOPSHOT - People shelter from the sun as they cross a road during a heatwave in Beijing on July 7, 2023. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)
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Heat waves in US and Europe would have been virtually impossible without climate change, new report finds
Climate change does not directly cause hurricanes or wildfires, but its impact can lead to an increase in their intensity and frequency. Consequently, as a result of higher ocean and air temperatures, hurricanes are gaining strength at a rapid pace and unleashing heavier rainfall upon landfall. Additionally, the hotter and drier conditions caused by climate change create a favorable environment for vegetation and trees to become highly flammable, thereby transforming wildfires into uncontrollable megafires.
"Now with the progress made in the field of attribution, we can confidently make precise statements," Hayhoe noted, highlighting how attribution plays a vital role in identifying specific areas within a city that face an increased risk of flooding as a result of climate change. "Significant advancements have been made in the field of attribution over the past five years, making it easier for individuals to comprehend the interconnectedness of various factors."
A structure is engulfed in flames as the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California, on Monday, October 30.
Ethan Swope/AP
All regions are feeling climate change, but some more severely
There is no place immune from climate change, Biden administration officials and the reports scientists emphasized, and this summers extreme weather was a deadly reminder.
Certain states, such as California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, are currently grappling with increasingly severe storms and drastic fluctuations in precipitation.
While landlocked states are not confronted with the challenges of rising sea levels, it should be noted that some Appalachian states like Kentucky and West Virginia have endured devastating floods caused by heavy rainstorms.
States in the northern regions are contending with a rise in tick-borne illnesses, reduced snowfall, and intensified rainstorms. "Every place is susceptible to some degree, although certain areas face higher or lower risks," remarked Hayhoe to CNN. "This is influenced by the growing occurrence of extreme weather events and climate anomalies that they encounter, as well as their level of preparedness."
Climate change is exacting a massive economic toll
According to the report, the economy is experiencing an increased frequency of climate shocks as demonstrated by this year's record-breaking number of extreme weather disasters, each with a price tag of at least $1 billion. Furthermore, experts in the field have been cautioning that the United States is merely at the initial stages of observing the economic repercussions resulting from the climate crisis.
The housing market is being adversely affected by climate risks, causing a significant increase in homeowners insurance rates. Certain states that are considered high-risk have experienced insurance providers withdrawing their services completely.
The devastation caused by severe storms, which can destroy specific crops, and extreme heat, resulting in the death of livestock, has led to a sharp increase in food prices. Additionally, research in the Southwest has highlighted that the projected rise in temperature could result in a 25% decrease in the physical work capacity of agricultural workers from July to September.
The US is cutting planet-warming pollution, but not nearly fast enough
The United States, unlike China and India, is witnessing a decrease in planet-warming pollution. However, this progress is insufficient to effectively address global warming or fulfill the country's international climate obligations, as described in the report.
The country experienced a 12% decrease in its annual greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2019, primarily due to the electricity sector's transition from coal to renewable energy and methane gas. It is important to note, however, that methane gas, despite being a fossil fuel, still contributes significantly to global warming. While this decline is positive for the climate crisis, a closer examination reveals a more complex situation.
The report states that US planet-warming emissions are still significant and would need to decrease by an average of 6% annually to align with the international 1.5-degree goal. To provide context, US emissions only decreased by less than 1% per year from 2005 to 2019 — a minimal yearly decline.
Workers install steel shoring where submarine cables come onshore for the Vineyard Wind project in Barnstable, Massachusetts, in October 2022.
M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Water â too much and not enough â is a huge problem for the US
The content delves into a significant finding that highlights the uncertain outlook for water in the United States. Certain regions within the country confront the prospect of either enduring severe droughts and water insecurity or grappling with increased instances of flooding and rising sea levels.
Lake Mead upstream from the Hoover Dam in April 2023.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
Water usage on the Colorado River is way down as the West begins planning for a future with less
Drought and reduced snowpack pose significant risks to Southwest communities, particularly in terms of freshwater resources. According to the Southwest chapter's reports, led by climate scientist Dave White from Arizona State University, the region has experienced considerably dryer conditions from 1991 to 2020 compared to the preceding three decades. This trend is alarming, especially considering the ongoing global warming, as it substantially threatens snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California and the Rockies, both vital sources of freshwater in the Western region.
White explained to CNN that the scarcity of freshwater in the area has substantial economic and agricultural consequences since it sustains urban areas, farmlands, and indigenous communities. According to White, the mountains serve as natural reservoirs for the region, making the impact of climate change on mountain snowpack extremely detrimental to infrastructure functioning. Preserving these resources is paramount to ensure their protection.
