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Executive Summary
Atlanta, GA—This year’s heat wave is part of a broader trend of
rising temperatures in Georgia,
according to a new report released today by the Environment Georgia. The
average temperature in Atlanta
is up nearly one degree Farenheit since 2000 compared with the previous three
decades (1971-2000).
“Global warming is happening, and Georgians are feeling
the heat,” said Environment Georgia Advocate Jennette Gayler. “Temperatures will continue to rise unless we
quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from power plants,
cars, and SUVs,” continued Gayler.
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 Georgia,
the average temperature was nearly two degrees Farenheit above the 20th century
average.
To examine how these recent temperature patterns compare
with temperatures over the last 30 years, Environment Georgia researchers
analyzed temperature data from 255 major weather stations in all 50 states and Washington, DC
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.
• In Atlanta,
between 2000 and 2005, the average temperature was nearly one degree Farenheit
above normal. During the first six months of 2006, the average temperature in Atlanta was almost two
degrees above normal.
• In Atlanta,
between 2000 and 2005, the average minimum (nighttime low) temperature was
nearly one degree Farenheit above normal. During the first six months of 2006, the
average minimum temperature in Atlanta
was nearly two degrees Farenheit above normal.
• In Atlanta, during the first six months of 2006, the
average maximum temperature in was more than one degree above normal.
“Two or three degrees may not seem like much, but just
like in people, a small, relatively rapid temperature rise can have serious
consequences,” continued Gayler. Gayler 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.
In Georgia,
unchecked global warming threatens to cause more frequent and severe heat waves
which will increase deaths and illnesses from extreme heat.
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 Gayler.
In August, Environment Georgia 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 Gayler.
This summer Rep. Henry Waxman of California
introduced legislation, called the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 5642), to harness
clean energy solutions and reduce U.S. global warming emissions by
15% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050
“To Protect future generations, Environment Georgia
strongly urges representatives from the Metro Atlanta area to cosponsor the
Safe Climate Act, the long term solution to global warming,” concluded Gayler.
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