It’s hot, and given this year’s trends it’s only going to grow hotter. The world is experiencing unprecedented and consecutive high temperatures. June was the world’s 13th month of consecutive record heat and the hottest June that scientists have on record.
All around the world people are dealing with the consequences. In Africa, the heat wave has been disastrous. The African nations of Burkina Faso and Mali are just two areas struggling due to the heat. From April 1st through 5th both nations experienced temperatures above 113 degrees Fahrenheit. An exact death toll has not been determined, but it has been estimated that hundreds if not thousands died due to the intense heat.
Level three heat alerts, the highest level alert, were issued in Rome, Perugia and Palermo. In Mexico, the heat has escalated to such high temperatures local howler monkeys are dropping dead out of trees. Additionally, India has experienced months of 122 Fahrenheit degree heat that has left people sick or dying in numbers that are still unknown. In the United States, the Biden-Harris Administration proposed a rule aiming to protect workers from extreme heat health risks and involves implementing requirements for drinking, rest breaks and indoor temperature control.
The common denominator: insufficient data. The number of fatalities could be drastically larger than what has been officially reported. But as this heat streak progresses it will not be remiss to expect comprehensive data. It’s important for citizens to know how dire the situation has become so they can take local warnings seriously. Optimistically, this summer could serve as a wake-up call to take the effects of climate change seriously; and motivate citizens to press their local governments and legislators to take action.
As U.S. citizens receive a taste of shocking heat, they need to consider what life will be like in the next four years if they put someone in office who does not see global warming as a pressing topic. This November, following the heat of the summer, the United States will have elected a new president to office.
The two presumptive Republican and Democrat nominees are Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden.
The recent presidential debate provided viewers with a minimal view of their policy intentions. However, it may have been difficult to understand each presumptive nominee’s political positions given the tumult the debate inspired.
Mr. Biden has a variety of environmental goals, however, there are four distinct goals that he seeks to achieve in the future. His first goal involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% to below 2005 levels in 2030. His second goal is to reach 100% carbon pollution-free energy by 2035. His third is to achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2050. Finally his fourth is to deliver 40% of the benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. Statistically, Biden has implemented huge environmental policy changes during his presidency that surpass any other U.S. president. Biden has made strides in environmental policy as the first president to implement net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, it’s important to note that while they like his policies on paper, 76% of his own party is largely dissatisfied with his climate policy and believes that he is not doing nearly enough.
On the other hand, the Trump Administration believes that left-leaning politicians mischaracterize the reality of our environment to use it as a scare tactic to gain control of the American public politically. The scare tactic deprives them of their private property rights while costing the government money. Project 2025 distinctly leaves out plans to decrease greenhouse gasses. However, he does seek to rebuild a conservative Environmental Protection Agency that focuses on transparency with the people. He currently believes that the environmental policies in place have unrealistic goals and that the rules need to be revised to consider the economic impact of enforcing these policies. If Trump becomes president, he will seek to walk back many of Biden’s policies.
Concerning environmental policy, the United States is looking at the choice between a man who in theory has effective policies but has a low satisfaction rating and a man who seeks to restructure the EPA to help boost the American economy by reducing operating costs through promoting oil and gas. A leading cause of climate change. There’s more to voting than environmental policy but if this heat wave is any indication, it’s definitely something America needs to be thinking about.
Acknowledgment: The opinions expressed in this piece are those of the individual author.
