People may soon find Phoenix city inhospitable due to climate change and escalating temperature. The scenario may affect the 1.5 million population that cramps up in Arizona where the temperature usually exceeds 100 degrees. Scientists said that it will get worse when the temperature reached 130 degrees, the 8 inches of rain annually will not sustain the city.
According to Arizona State University climatologist David Hondulla, he often thinks of worse possibilities about future habitability of Phoenix city. Hondulla is studying the impact of severe heat on health. In a climate change threatened future, Arizona may face hotter, drier environment, plus unpredictable monsoon.
Since President Donald Trump back-paddled the US' commitment to climate change, Phoenix city is feared to face the full impact of worse weather cases. With some in Arizona state that have limited resources to become resilient, health is at risk. Hondulla stressed that even economic prosperity is at risk in the first place.
To recall, Phoenix city took a step in retaliation against climate change, PhysOrg reported. The city set goals and example for Arizona for carbon emissions by replacing the city carpool with electric vehicles and streetlights with efficient low-energy bulbs. Even the public transportation system was expanded and bike lanes were built. The question is whether Arizona city will continue such environment-friendly measures.
Scientists used data from last summer to present the Phoenix city argument. The Weather Channel reported a 120 degrees more than once and the average heat increased to 1.12 degrees compared to previous 50 years. It can be argued that climate change is impacting Phoenix more than any other city in the US, given that no other city has higher temperature increase.
Lastly, Phoenix city has water conservation efforts and reliable underground supply built in 1980's. However, Arizona's Colorado and Salt rivers from where the city is sourcing its water is also threatened with drought, thanks to climate change. The Arizona Department of Water Resources director Tom Buschatzke himself confirmed that there is not much reservoir as it was used to.
