Extreme weather conditions remind us that we must (and can) fight the climate crisis

Last summer, the San Francisco sky outside my colleague’s window was burning red from the fires. It was like hell and I was afraid for him and our planet.

Summer has begun this month, it’s time to get rid of the stress caused by the pandemic on beaches and other resorts, but a new period of extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, has also begun, as evidenced by record temperatures currently set in the Northwest Pacific. This means hurricanes in the south and east, droughts and fires in the west and southwest.

Clearly, we need to take urgent action to slow down heating and its effects on weather systems – action that prioritizes bold, ambitious and swift action to address long-term environmental injustices as we face the climate crisis.

Reasons to be optimistic again

It’s a warning story about extreme weather that has already begun, but it’s also a tribute to the hope I feel in my bones.

Why am I optimistic?

The political winds around climate policy are changing. The Biden government reinstated the United States in the Paris climate agreement, pledged to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and appointed a team of experienced superstars to focus on climate change. President Biden’s US business plan sought to tackle climate change immediately.

Also, two climate activists were recently elected to ExxonMobil ‘s board of directors, and the CEO of more than 300 companies urged the Biden government to make bold emissions cuts – all positive signs.

How are extreme weather events personalized?

Weather is a part of our lives and extreme weather conditions present some challenges.

The first thing I do every morning is check the weather. Do I have to dress my kids in short or long sleeves, water the garden or get an umbrella outside? At the same time, the weather has become a deeply disturbing part of life.

I worry more when the temperature rises. My daughter Teagan has special needs. It has more crises when the weather warms up. Because he is in a wheelchair, he can not run and jump in the pool to cool off like other children.

Teagan is not alone. Studies show that flare-ups are more common in people with asthma when temperatures rise and storms become intense. Colored people suffer more. According to an EDF analysis, children in white-dominated neighborhoods have on average twice as much pollution-related asthma as white-dominated neighborhoods.

I live in Maryland, so I’m not worried about a hurricane destroying my house. But my parents live in Florida, so I’m worried about them. Things do not look good: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted a 60 percent chance of a hurricane season above normal – this could be the sixth in a row.

More intense storms, droughts and fires

If you live in Miami, New Orleans, Houston or other coastal areas, you know the winds and storms are getting worse. A staggering 32 million homes on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, valued at $ 8.5 trillion, are at risk of being damaged by strong winds this year.

The West can use some of this water. The Lake Mead Reservoir, which supplies water to 25 million people in the Southwest, is at its lowest level since the 1930s. Farmers in North Dakota have to carry water by truck to keep their animals alive and farmers in Rio Grande in New Mexico have asked not to plant crops.

Further west, as Johnny Mitchell says, “Oh, but California.” Last summer, there were about 10,000 fires there. The fires burned more than 4 million acres and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. California still has problems: its tanks are only half full.

Drought and high temperatures are ominous signs that my colleague’s sky will be red this year as well.

Turn hope and anxiety into action

As most of us endure the pandemic, we will learn to live with extreme weather conditions and we can do so as we strive to mitigate the worst effects. Here are three things you can do at home:

• If you have, plant shade trees in your garden.
• If you have AC, keep your blinds or shutters closed to save energy.
• Consider installing solar panels and take advantage of tax benefits.

You can also subscribe to the EDF, supporting heating retardation and increasing resilience worldwide:

After taking these precautions, let’s enjoy the summer whenever we can!