A study by The Nature Conservancy has revealed the costs of rising temperatures in Phoenix. This non-profit environmental organization is mainly known as nature preservers and also try to protect biodiversity. Now, this organisation has turned its attention to the country’s hottest large metropolitan area.
The report said as Phoenix continues to urbanize itself, its population expands. Both the public and private sector need to play an active role to implement the solutions of this situation.
David Hondula, a former professor of Arizona State University is the head of Phoenix’s new heat response and mitigation office. He has said that This report published by The Nature Conservancy will be very helpful for cities like Phoenix to get funding for measures to help cool down neighbourhoods.
Phoenix was a scorching city but climate change has made it worse. In early September its temperature was 111 degrees which is 43.8 Celsius. In summer the temperature reaches 118 degrees which is 48 Celsius. Almost 1.6 million people live in the city.
The communities who are vulnerable to this temperature are poor and racially diverse communities. Most of these households lack the elements to deal with the increasing temperature which is becoming more severe day-by-day. Phoenix’s Maricopa County recorded 323 deaths caused by extreme heat in 2020.
The Nature Conservancy has found out what can be result of this increasing temperature upon human health, labour productivity, electricity and roadways.
People in Phoenix spent $7.3 million every year in hospitalizations due to heat-related illnesses. The transportation agencies spent $100 million annually to maintain the roads of Phoenix as roads buckle, rut and crack due to high temperature.
The study suggested to plant enough trees which will provide the people of the city cool roofs. It also suggested the buildings of this city should be made with such materials that does not absorb heat.
