Ann Arbor, MI—The
average temperature in Detroit was 2.7°F above
average in 2006, according to a new report released today by Environment Michigan
Policy & Research Center. This warmer-than-normal weather is indicative
of what Michigan
can expect with continued global warming.
“Throw out the record books, because global warming is
raising temperatures in Michigan and across
the country,” said Environment Michigan
Policy & Research Center Field Organizer Daylan Dufelmeier. “The long-term forecast is for more of the
same unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from
power plants and passenger vehicles,” continued Dufelmeier.
According to the National
Climatic Data
Center, the 2006 summer
and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007 is on track to be the second warmest
year on record globally.
To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, Environment
Michigan Policy
& Research Center
compared temperature data for the years 2000-2006 from 255 weather stations
located in all 50 states and Washington,
DC with temperatures averaged over
the 30 years spanning 1971-2000, or what scientists call the “normal”
temperature.
Key findings include:
- Sault Ste. Marie above-average temperatures in
2006 are part of a broader warming trend since 2000. Between 2000 and 2006, the average temperature
was 4°F above the 30-year average in Sault Ste Marie. Nationally, the average temperature during
this seven year period was at least 0.5°F above normal at 87% of the locations
studied.
- Over the course of 2006, Del Rio Texas
experienced 162 days where the temperature hit at least 90°F, 33 days more than
the historical average. Heat waves have
serious implications for human health, causing heat stroke, heat exhaustion,
and even death.
- Reno
Nevada experienced average minimum
temperatures — the lowest temperatures recorded on a given day, usually at
night — of 5.5°F above normal in 2006 and 9.7°F above normal during the 2006
summer. Warmer nighttime temperatures
exacerbate the public health effects of heat waves, since people need cooler
nighttime temperatures to recover from excessive heat exposure during the day.
In April 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change found that North America could
experience significant water stress, forest fires, and “an increased number,
intensity, and duration of heat waves” as temperatures continue to rise.
“Scientists are sounding alarm bells about the impacts of
continued global warming,” stated Mike Shriberg. “The good news is that those same scientists
say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by taking bold action now
to reduce global warming pollution,” continued Shriberg.
To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the United States
must halt increases in global warming emissions now, cut emissions by at least
15-20% by 2020, and slash emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
“The better news is that we have the technology at our
fingertips to cut global warming pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure
energy future,” said Scott Desilva.
The United
States could substantially reduce its global
warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants,
businesses, homes, and cars more efficient and generate more electricity from
clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.
Congress is poised to consider global warming legislation
this fall. The Safe Climate Act in the U.S.
House and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the U.S. Senate are the
only bills that would reduce pollution to levels that scientists say are needed
to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
“The heat is on Congress to take decisive action to curb
global warming,” stated Daylan Dufelmeier.
Environment Michigan commends Congressman
Conyers for co-sponsoring the Safe Climate Act and calls on the rest of the Michigan delegation to follow his example and make Michigan a leader in
fighting global warming.
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Environment Michigan
Policy & Research Center is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization.
