Global Warming Solutions News

Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work.

WASHINGTON—This year’s unprecedented heat wave is part of a broader trend of rising temperatures across the country, according to a new report released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG). During the first six months of 2006, the average temperature at D.C.’s Reagan Airport was 2.4° F above normal, with the average temperature at Dulles Airport 3.6° F above normal.

“Global warming is happening, and Americans are feeling the heat,” said U.S. PIRG Clean Air & Energy Advocate Emily Figdor. “Temperatures will continue to rise unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from power plants, cars, and SUVs,” continued Figdor.

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 36 states, the first seven months of 2006 ranked as one of the state’s 10 warmest years since record-keeping began in 1895.

To examine how these recent temperature patterns compare with temperatures over the last 30 years, U.S. PIRG analyzed government 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.

• At D.C.’s Reagan National Airport , the average temperature from 2000 to 2005 was 0.6° F above normal. During the first six months of 2006, the average temperature at Reagan Airport was 2.4° F above normal.

• At Dulles International Airport, the average temperature from 2000 to 2005 was 1.0° F above normal. During the first six months of 2006, the average temperature at Dulles was 3.6° F above normal.

“One or two degrees may not seem like much, but just like in people, a small, relatively rapid temperature increase can have serious consequences,” said Figdor. Figdor 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. Left unchecked, global warming threatens to cause dramatic climatic shifts. 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 Figdor.

In August, U.S. 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 Figdor.

This summer Representative Henry Waxman of California introduced the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 5642), which would harness clean energy solutions to reduce U.S. global warming emissions by about 15% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. Senator Jeffords of Vermont introduced a similar bill, called the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 3698), in July.

“We commend Representative Waxman and Senator Jeffords for their leadership in working to protect future generations from global warming,” concluded Figdor.