Ann Arbor, MI—The
average temperature in Detroit was 2.7°F above
average in 2006, according to a new report released today by EnvironmentMichiganPolicy & ResearchCenter. 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,”
According to the NationalClimaticDataCenter, 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, EnvironmentMichiganPolicy
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
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 RioTexas
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.
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
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.
EnvironmentMichiganPolicy & ResearchCenter is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy