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The United States is currently experiencing a heat dome, with temperatures soaring to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) in some western states, Overnight high. Heat DomeHigh pressure and high temperature systems will become increasingly Common and more serious As the global climate crisis intensifies.
Nearly 31 million people Living with the current high temperatures in the U.S. While everyone is at risk for heat-related illness and death, People with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant womenpeople living in poverty, and those who spend more time outdoors, e.g. homeless individual and Migrant Workers People who are vulnerable to rights-infringing work environments are particularly at risk. America’s deadliest climate-related weather patterns.
Compared to these high-risk groups, people of color are also more likely to live in Most affected by extreme temperaturesSystemic racism has disproportionately harmed low-income communities of color, and generations of discrimination in housing and urban planning have left these communities sparsely represented in nearly every major U.S. city. Live in the community This disproportion can trap and intensify heat.
Structural inequalities lead to a lack of capacity in low-income communities of color Mitigating heat waves and reducing temperaturesLow-income communities have less tree cover and shade, and less air conditioning use. The ability to use it is partly due to utility costs. Systemic racism has devastated communities of color. Unequal access to healthcare and rising rates of disease This can also increase the risk of heat-related injuries.
Federal, state, and local governments can take immediate steps to address these inequities. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Should be classified The designation of extreme heat and wildfire smoke as “major hazards” will make federal funds available for heat wave response, including the provision of cooling facilities, water and air conditioning generators.
Tackling the use of fossil fuels is also key to mitigating the severity of future heat domes. Fossil fuels are a major driver of the climate crisis and the root cause of widespread human rights violations that are bear disproportionately Communities of color. State and local governments should hold the fossil fuel industry accountable and require companies to pay for climate-related damages. Vermont This has been done recently, and Multnomah County is trying Oregon.
To meet human rights obligations and mitigate the harm caused by extreme heat, governments need to rapidly phase out fossil fuels and work to correct structural inequalities.
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