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A coalition of Florida’s environmental groups has petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to step in and set water-quality standards to protect Florida’s residents, visitors, and wildlife from the health dangers posed by harmful algae blooms
The action is the latest maneuver by environmentalists who say they have been trying for years to get state environmental officials to do something substantive about the growing problems of toxic red tide along the coasts and blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, throughout inland waterways and lakes.
The standards sought in the petition are designed to help the state more effectively monitor water quality and identify and clean up waters impaired by cyanotoxins.
“It is unacceptable,” said James Evans, chief executive at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. “The recurring cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries pose a significant risk to human health, wildlife,, and our local economies, and underscore the need for enforceable standards.”
Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that can photosynthesize like plants. When these algae grow excessively, often due to nutrient pollution like fertilizers running from lawns and farms into streams, rivers, and lakes, they form blooms that can produce toxins that can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, liver failure.
Red tide blooms, when mixed about by winds and crashing waves, can fling toxins airborne that when breathed in disrupt the way nerve cells work, which can cripple the nervous system in humans with respiratory problems and susceptible marine creatures.
Recognizing the need to set water quality and health standards for harmful algae blooms, the EPA recommended “final” criteria in 2019 for two of the most common cyanotoxins plaguing Florida’s waters.
Although states are not required to adopt the EPA recommendations, they are required to explain their reasoning for not adopting the criteria as part of their every-third-year reviews of water-quality standards.
But Florida is years overdue in completing its three-year water-quality review and has not given the EPA a reason for failing to set criteria for the algae.
“The state’s refusal to set limits on these dangerous toxins suggests it’s more concerned about avoiding responsibility for algae blooms than providing necessary protections for Floridians,” said Jason Totoiu, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I know how important it is to our families, visitors, and local economies for the EPA to put standards in place that can guide our efforts to clean up this toxic mess.”
Before involving the EPA, the Center for Biological Diversity and some of the same agencies petitioned State of Florida regulators five years ago to establish criteria for the cyanotoxins that are linked to liver disease and increased neurodegenerative risks in people.
Since Florida did not take enough action, the groups are bringing the weight of the federal environmental agency into the scrum in an attempt to combat algae blooms, which have killed dogs, ruined beach vacations, and slammed tourism economies on a regional scale like in 2019 when algae blooms lasted longer than a year.
 
The four Florida nonprofits that have joined the Center for Biological Diversity in asking the EPA to step in to limit human exposure to the toxins are Calusa Waterkeeper, Friends of the Everglades, and the Florida Wildlife Federation
During a stretch of eight months after Hurricane Ian in late 2022 and early 2023 there were more than a dozen red tide blooms off Southwest Florida. Since the beginning of this year there have been seven health advisors due to positive sampling for blue-green algae along the Caloosahatchee River.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has established separate task forces to study blue-green algae and red tide, but critics say DeSantis then ignores the two teams’ recommendations.
DeSantis’ office did not return requests for the governor to comment.
 
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By Francesca Aton
Associate Digital Editor, ARTnews and Art in America
A climate activist affixed an adhesive poster to a Monet painting at the Musée d’Orsay Saturday. The woman, who said she intended to raise awareness for climate change, was arrested.
The stunt was carried out by a member of Riposte Alimentaire (Food Response), a group of environmental activists and defenders of sustainable food production in response to the climate crisis. The group has been targeting museums across Europe for years, including most recently a protest at the Louvre last month.
Climate change activist VANDALIZES priceless Claude Monet painting in Paris.

The activist stuck a piece of painted cloth over ‘The Poppy Field’ painting at the Orsay Museum in Paris demanding climate change action. pic.twitter.com/DXFVhRkdJf
A video on X showed the activist sticking an adhesive barren red landscape on top of Claude Monet’s 1873 painting Coquelicots, saying, according to the Guardian, “this nightmarish image awaits us if no alternative is put in place”.

The French Impressionist’s work depicts people with umbrellas roaming through a blooming poppy field. Unlike works like Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, which has been the subject of much backlash, it was not protected by glass.
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We are committed to making our operations and our supply chain sustainable through reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, supporting a more resilient and healthier environment for our guests, team members and communities. Aligned with our Target Forward ambitions, we commit to net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our enterprise by 2040 to reduce climate impacts across our operations and supply chain.  
We are focused on cutting our GHG emissions by driving energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy and eliminating waste. We’re also working with our suppliers to support their decarbonization efforts.

We expect the long-term effects of global climate change will be widespread and unpredictable. That understanding informs our comprehensive climate policy and goals, which are designed to keep Target competitive within the retail industry and are accompanied by internal execution strategies and management plans. 
Since we opened our first store back in 1962, we’ve aimed to make our products and operations more sustainable for our guests. By 2040, we commit to net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our enterprise, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.  
In the near term, our goal is to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3³ greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2017 levels by 2030. We’ve also joined the Business Ambition for 1.5 and Race to Zero to help drive meaningful change across our sector and value chain and ensure that our emissions will contribute to no more than 1.5 degree warming. 
In 2019, we set and validated science-based targets for emissions reductions across our operations and our supply chain — becoming a leader in U.S. retail. 
We’ve also made a series of interim goals to measure and report our progress over time. Progress against these Target Forward goals will be updated annually through our sustainability and governance reporting.
Engage suppliers to prioritize renewable energy and collaborate on solutions that protect, sustain and restore nature. 
Plan to have at least 50% of the energy used in strategic and joint business plan partners’ owned operations come from renewables. 
Intend to leverage soil health practices to improve at least 1 million acres of land. 
Source 60% of our electricity from renewable sources for our operations. 
In 2022, we reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our own operations (scope 1 and 2) by 34.9% from 2017. While Target’s supply chain (scope 3) emissions have increased by 12% from our 2017 baseline, in 2022, we reported an 8% decrease from 2021, our first year-over-year reduction since setting our goal. 
Our net zero goal is ambitious, and we recognize the challenge ahead in reducing emissions while still growing our business. 
Our emissions reduction strategy centers around adopting renewable energy, driving energy efficiency and implementing other sustainable practices. Our internal Sustainable Building Council, a cross-functional team within Target Properties, coordinates sustainability strategies and helps develop priorities and roadmaps to meet our long-term goals. 
To reduce our impact and achieve net zero emissions in our owned operations, we are transitioning to natural (100% CO₂) refrigerants, pushing innovation through energy efficient initiatives, and investing in renewable energy.  
We have joined with more than 50 food retailers in the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill program, working to reduce refrigerant emissions and transition to CO2 refrigerants that have less impact on the environment, and have 130+ stores certified or pending certification to date.
In 2022, we completed the remodel of T2165 Vista, CA, designed to be our first net zero energy store (a store that generates more energy than it needs to operate each year through renewable sources).  
In 2023, we joined the Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, committing to reduce our scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 50% below 2017 levels by 2030.  
As part of our commitment to supporting our communities and committing to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our enterprise, Target has a long-term interest in designing and operating energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. We have achieved our goals to support renewable energy by increasing the number of buildings with rooftop solar panels to 500 by 2020 and source 60% of electricity from renewable sources for operations at our U.S. stores and distribution centers and are now working toward a goal to source 100% of our electricity from renewable sources for operations. 
We’re increasingly meeting a portion of our energy needs with solar power. Currently, our stores that use solar power generate between 15 and 100% of their electricity from solar. In some instances, Target may not retain the renewable energy certificates for the energy generated from our rooftop solar power. In those cases, Target may sell the renewable energy certificates to other entities and thus transfer the rights to characterize that electricity as renewable. 
We’ve also signed contracts for several large renewable energy projects across the country that, once operating, will achieve more than 60% of our 100% renewable electricity goal. These agreements are part of our commitment to renewable energy, and we are continuing to grow our portfolio of offsite solar and wind projects to ensure we meet our goals. 
While we don’t own or operate the fleets that carry our freight, we work closely with carriers, vendors and other partners to help put more efficient processes in place. In 2008, we joined the EPA’s SmartWay Transportation Partnership, which includes an annual carbon footprint assessment of domestic transportation operations. In addition, we began offsetting our jet travel in 2019 through our ongoing partnership with Arbor Day Foundation. 
We are also making progress on our electric vehicle (EV) charging program, which began in 2013. By collaborating with organizations such as Tesla, Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint, over 1,800 charging spaces are now available for our guests and team members to use across 200 Target sites as of the end of FY2022. 
Conserving energy is important, so we partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy to make our buildings more energy efficient. More than 1,500 of our stores have already earned ENERGY STAR certification (that’s more than 80% of our U.S. buildings), and feature sustainability initiatives such as LED lights, high efficiency HVAC equipment and energy saving controls. 
We take a multi-faceted approach to emissions reductions and focus on our highest carbon impacts. Our supply chain partners are joining us to expedite the work already in place to lower our collective impact, including maintaining responsible sourcing, efficiency, increasing renewable energy use and monitoring raw materials programs. 
We are supporting our suppliers in calculating their carbon footprint and setting science-based emission reduction targets, so that they have the ability to measure and report progress as we work together to transition to a low-carbon economy. 64% of our suppliers (out of 80% by spend), equating to 483 suppliers, set science-based scope 1 and 2 goals as of the end of FY2022, an increase from the reported 32% in 2021. As of 2022, our suppliers have reported improvements in their scope 1 and 2 emissions relative to the 2017 baseline, which led to 13.2% reductions. 
Learn more about our work to reduce our supply chain footprint 
As part of our Target Forward ambition to partner across the value chain to design solutions that eliminate waste, we are committed to eliminating problematic plastic in our packaging, in service of our work to reduce climate impacts across our operations and supply chain. Our suppliers also play an integral role in helping Target achieve our waste reduction, recycling and reuse program goals. 
Learn how we’re designing for circularity and addressing waste throughout our value chain  

In September 2022, Target joined a coalition of 18 cargo owners and customers by signing the Aspen Institute’s Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels (coZEV) 2040 Ambition Statement to accelerate the transition to zero carbon maritime shipping by 2040. Joining coZEV is an important part of accelerating our work to create a more sustainable, circular supply chain that furthers the health of our business and the global community.
In November 2022, Target became a lead funder for Aii’s Fashion Climate Fund spurring the Fund’s mission to unite industry stakeholders, mobilize climate action, and meet the fashion industry’s ambition to halve carbon emissions by 2030. Target, an original founding partner of Aii, joins PVH Corporation, Lululemon, H&M Group, H&M Foundation and The Schmidt Family Foundation.
In 2022, we initiated a Target-led program, in partnership with Schneider Electric, called Supply Chain Renewables Initiative (SCRI). The program aims to engage and educate Target’s suppliers on procuring renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on off-site renewable energy power purchase agreements. This program includes educational content, stakeholder meetings and market sourcing activities to support reductions in supply chain emissions via the acceleration of renewable energy adoption. Through SCRI, we are engaging suppliers to prioritize renewable energy, while working toward our goal to have at least 50% of the energy used in strategic and joint business partner-owned operations come from renewables by 2025. 
Target is also engaged, alongside other major companies, in the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project, a five-year, $8.5 million project to support Nebraska farmers in advancing soil health techniques. Target also provided an additional $1.7 million in collaboration with MBOLD, The Nature Conservancy and Hormel Foods, to encourage Minnesota farmers to adopt regenerative farming practices.

To further enhance our climate strategy, we are addressing climate-related risks and resilience in our buildings and other properties. As we further build out our net zero goal roadmap, we will continue to evaluate our climate-related risks and opportunities in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Our sustainability team periodically engages independent third-party consultants to conduct risk and opportunities assessments that align with TCFD and assess: 
Transition risks encompass what may occur as a result of a transition to a low-carbon economy.    
Physical risks include both acute and chronic risks, such as natural disasters (acute) and longer-term impacts of a shift towards a warming climate (chronic).  
Opportunities considered relate to Target’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.    
A multi-disciplinary set of upstream, downstream, and supply chain business functions across the organization works to understand each risk and opportunity type as it may manifest for Target. We use these findings to inform our risk mitigation approach and make targeted enhancements to our resilience strategy at the individual store/facility level. 
Our greenhouse gas emissions are broken down into three categories, called scopes.
Each year, Target discloses our efforts to CDP, a global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts:
2023 CDP Response: Climate
2022 CDP Response: Climate
2021 CDP Response: Climate
2020 CDP Response: Climate
2019 CDP Response: Climate
2018 CDP Response: Climate
2017 CDP Response: Climate
2016 CDP Response: Climate
2015 CDP Response: Climate
2014 CDP Response: Climate

Looking for Target’s disclosures related to leading frameworks and standards? Our Reporting & Progress page has our latest reporting and downloadable metrics. 
Dig into our metrics
We partner with Optera, a provider of emissions management tools, to independently verify the accuracy of our reported greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with ISO 14064-1 guidance and The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol:
2022 Independent Greenhouse Gas Emissions Verification Statement
2021 Independent Greenhouse Gas Emissions Verification Statement
Meet the partners helping drive our climate and energy goals:
Anthesis
Apparel Impact Institute (Aii)
Arbor Day Foundation
Aspen Institute's Cargo Owners for Zero Emissions Vessels (coZEV)
Business Ambition for 1.5°C
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
CDP
Ceres
Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA)
Gold Standard
North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council
Race to Zero
Science Based Targets Initiative
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)
The Nature Conservancy  
UNFCCC Fashion Industry Charter on Climate Action
World Resources Institute (WRI)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
1 Metrics for renewable energy consumption and scope 1 and 2 is for domestic (U.S.) operations that we have operational control of under The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol, with the exception of our wholly owned subsidiary Shipt, Inc. (“Shipt”). 
2 To calculate the percentage of renewable electricity in Target’s operations, we evaluate both the amount of renewable electricity from Target’s projects and the renewable electricity in the grid. This total renewable electricity is then compared to Target’s total electricity use per the following equation: Target’s Renewable Electricity % = (Target Renewable Electricity Projects + Renewable Electricity in the Grid) / Target Electricity Use. 
3 From retail purchased goods and services. 
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Start your day with a roundup of key stories from The Korea Herald with news and comment on all that’s happening in Korea. 
Published : March 12, 2024 – 17:17
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Sales of imported cars from luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bentley have plummeted in South Korea during the first two months of 2024, coinciding with the government's implementation of lime green license plates for corporate-owned luxury vehicles worth over 80 million won ($61,500).
The Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association reported a 19.4 percent year-on-year drop in total imported vehicle sales in January this year to 13,083 units, marking the lowest sales figure since 2013. About 1 in 3 imported cars sold in Korea last year was priced above 100 million won.
Effective January of this year, the Korean government mandates lime green license plates for corporate-owned vehicles priced above 80 million won to make them easily distinguishable from privately owned vehicles with white plates to discourage the misuse of tax cuts.
Local companies have been able to take advantage of tax cuts, worth up to 8 million won ($6,000) per year, for vehicles purchased or leased for business purposes. This benefit, however, was frequently exploited, as the law did not cap the total deductible amount over time, allowing for the entire purchase price of luxury vehicles to be written off under corporate expenses.
This loophole was also cited as a key factor driving up luxury car sales and the imported car market overall for years.
Following the new scheme taking effect, corporate purchases of imported cars plummeted to 4,876 units in January alone — a sharp decrease of over 60 percent from 12,670 in December and about 52 percent lower than in November.
Ultra-luxury brands with cars costing over 100 million won have been especially hard hit. Bentley, for instance, sold just 11 units in Korea last month, representing an 82 percent decrease compared to the same month last year, with sales in January also dipping to 13 units. This downturn stands out as the company set three consecutive annual sales records in Korea with monthly sales typically ranging between 60 to 90 vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz also saw a dramatic fall in the sales of its most premium Maybach model, which is priced above 290 million won, with its sales plummeting to 55 units in January from an average monthly sales volume of 216 units last year.
Representatives from luxury car brands remain cautious about attributing the decline solely to the new regulation, pinpointing logistical challenges.
“The lime-green plate's impact on our sales is undeniable, but it's not the whole story. The shipping crisis caused by Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea, disrupting Suez Canal routes, is a major headache for our deliveries from Europe to Asia,” said a Mercedes-Benz Korea official.
“Pointing fingers solely at the new plate for our sales dip oversimplifies things. The gap between ordering and receiving our new Continental GT models released last summer, which can stretch from six months to over a year, also plays a big role,” explained a spokesperson for Bentley Motors Korea.

Articles by Moon Joon-hyun
The Korea Herald by Herald Corporation
Copyright Herald Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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There’s no question that EVs are truly a mainstream proposition today – so long as you’ve got the cash to spare to buy a new model. 
Given that the average price paid for one according to data from Kelley Blue Book was just over $55,000 in April of 2024, there are plenty of people who want to make their driving habits more eco-friendly, but simply can’t justify the expense.
Luckily we’re seeing second hand electric vehicles become significantly more affordable as a result of the growing market size and the plethora of models available, which means that they’re no longer as unattainable as they once were for the average person. 
Let’s take a look at how this is playing out, and what this means for motorists on an average income of around $37,000 a year.
It’s expected that 1.27 million new EVs will roll out of dealerships this year, but it’s the used market that’s much more tantalizing – with even top tier brands like Tesla being available for around $25,000. 
Here’s why and how this trend is evolving:
Just five years ago, options for buying a used electric vehicle were limited. Fast forward to today, and it’s a different story. More electric cars on the roads mean more entering the second-hand market as early adopters trade up to newer models or leases expire.
Depreciation hits hard in the car industry but typically benefits latecomers in the EV space. 
For example, models like the 2020 Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Bolt can now be found at half their original sticker price. It’s just a case of connecting with reputable local dealers to get good prices on quality used EVs and other vehicles. So, for instance, if you’re based in Atlanta, looking for a pre-owned EV in Duluth is a savvy and safe move.
One major concern with older EVs was battery degradation; however, advancements in technology have led to batteries retaining efficacy for more extended periods. 
A used Tesla Model S might still maintain around 90% of its battery capacity even after five years of service – while the official warranty guarantees at least 70% capacity retention for as long as coverage lasts.
This increase in supply and improvements in technology not only make pre-owned electric vehicles an attractive option financially but also an environmentally sound one – allowing a broader range of consumers to participate in eco-friendly driving practices without breaking the bank.
The acceptance of pre-owned electric vehicles is fueled by a noticeable shift in consumer attitudes towards sustainability and second-hand goods. As concerns about climate change deepen, more people are willing to consider EVs as a legitimate alternative to new gasoline-powered vehicles. 
Here’s how perceptions are changing:
Consumers are increasingly aware of their carbon footprints – which, on average, are around 14 tons annually. Choosing a used electric vehicle over a new internal combustion engine vehicle can save approximately 6 to 8 tons of CO2 per year, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The enhancement in inspection, certification, and refurbishment programs for EVs has boosted buyer confidence. For instance, certified pre-owned programs like Tesla’s include thorough battery checks and offer extended warranties. So, while the new Model 3 might be tempting, the first-gen is still well worth checking out.
Many regions offer tax rebates, subsidies, or other incentives for buying used electric cars just as they do for new EVs. The clean vehicle tax credit, worth up to $7,500, is a good example of this.
These evolving perceptions are crucial in driving the growth of the pre-owned EV market; they not only support environmental sustainability but also make economic sense in long-term savings on fuel and maintenance.
Adopting pre-owned electric vehicles extends the environmental benefits of green technology far beyond just reducing emissions during driving. This practice supports a circular economy and lessens the broader automotive industry’s impact on the environment. 
Here are some crucial aspects where used EVs contribute to sustainability:
The production of new vehicles is resource-intensive, involving significant raw materials and energy, particularly for batteries. Purchasing used EVs means consumers reduce the demand for new vehicle production, thereby conserving resources – while also counteracting the fact that 15% of all carbon emissions come from road vehicles at the moment.
Electric cars are generally designed to last longer due to fewer moving parts that could wear out. Keeping them in circulation longer ensures that the energy and materials invested in manufacturing these vehicles are utilized to their fullest potential.
As the EV market matures, systems for recycling and repurposing electric vehicle batteries improve. For example, companies like Redwood Materials are developing advanced methods to recycle over 95% of lithium-ion battery materials, which can then be reused in new batteries.
In short, if you really want to live sustainably, then don’t go out and buy a brand-new EV. Instead, check out the options on the second-hand market and be content that you’re being an environmentally conscientious individual, as well as saving some cash in the process.
Greener Ideal helps you live your life in more sustainable ways with green living tips and commentary on the latest environment news. We want to protect the planet and reduce our collective carbon footprint.
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Written by Aimee Parsons
With spring finally here, Walsworth is here to help channel your inner Marie Kondo and do some yearbook room spring cleaning this Earth Day! Earth Day is an especially relevant time to think about sustainability and intentional eco-friendly practices.
We strongly believe in giving back to the planet! Did you know Walsworth recycles over 85% of the waste generated at our manufacturing facilities? That’s a big win for sustainability efforts. We also proudly hold certifications with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program and the Forest Stewardship Council. We even implement green initiatives in our printing processes, such as installing low-emission press equipment and using aluminum plates, which recycle easily. We proudly commit to responsible, sustainability practices, which you can read more about here.
But, enough about us, let’s talk about what you can do as a yearbook staff to be eco-friendly.
Make room for the new editions, all while doing your part for the planet. ♻️
As you gear up for the fresh scent of those amazing new yearbooks, you may wonder where to put any remaining copies you might have leftover from previous years.
How to make your yearbook room eco-friendlier and more sustainable:
Take these steps to minimize your staff’s environmental impact and create lasting memories for your school.
By finding new homes for your old yearbooks and minimizing your classroom’s environmental impact you’re joining our mission to be kind to the Earth.
Here’s to a clean, green and yearbook-filled Earth Day!
Comments are closed.
Aimee Parsons is the Yearbook Marketing Manager at Walsworth and has held various other roles within the company. Prior to joining Walsworth, Parsons was a corporate photographer for Burns and McDonnell Engineering and owned and operated her own freelance photography business. Marketing and photography are her passions, which led to her becoming a national award-winning Photo-Editor for The Campus Ledger newspaper at Johnson County Community College and eventually studying commercial photography at Northern Arizona University.


 

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Hyundai, Kia’s sales of eco-friendly cars to hit 1 mn units in US  ETAuto
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Climate change is transforming the character of the West’s hottest periods — making them more frequent, more persistent and more lethal.
For almost all of human history, heat waves have been driven by natural variability — or the tendency of weather patterns to veer occasionally from their typical patterns. Now, however, the accumulation of greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels is increasing the likelihood and severity of such extreme heat events.
Although California and the American West will continue to experience cool days and periods of heavy snowpack, scientists say the long-term trend is for the planet to grow hotter with the continued burning of fossil fuels. Since 1880, the global average temperature has increased by about 2 degrees.
How is climate change affecting the length and duration of heat waves? How will rising temperatures affect people and ecosystems? How much hotter is it expected to be if current emissions continue unabated?
Climate & Environment
A powerful high-pressure ridge will bring unusually hot temperatures to the Golden State by the middle of this week, before spreading into the Pacific Northwest.
June 2, 2024
Here’s what the experts say:
The temperature readings in Earth’s atmosphere and its oceans are monitored by thousands of weather stations, buoys and ships around the world. Scientists use this data to calculate a global average temperature.
Climate & Environment
California’s worst heat waves arrive in a one-two punch — high temperatures combined with humid air from Baja.
Oct. 7, 2021
“We know that the planet is warming because all these groups are independently documenting a clear, long-term increase in our global average temperature,” said Kristina Dahl, principal climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national nonprofit organization.
“It’s a trend that can’t be explained by any natural causes, such as changes in volcanic eruptions or solar radiation,” she said. “Human emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, two known, potent heat-trapping gases, very clearly explain the trend we’ve seen.”
Nineteen of the 20 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The year 2023 was the planet’s warmest on record so far. In July, Phoenix recorded 31 consecutive days of temperatures of 110 degrees or higher — the hottest month on record for any U.S. city.
In 2021, an anomalous and extreme heat wave in the Pacific Northwest killed hundreds of people and an estimated 1 billion sea creatures off the coast of British Columbia. A study of that event found that such heat waves could become 20 times more likely if current carbon emissions continue.
Climate & Environment
Read all of our coverage about how California is neglecting the climate threat posed by extreme heat.
Oct. 7, 2021
Scientists use a range of potential future emissions scenarios to try to discern how emissions choices will affect all aspects of our climate, Dahl said. Here’s a sampling of what those scenarios show:

For much of the U.S., extreme heat events have been increasing in frequency since the mid-1960s, and the number of high temperature records has been outpacing the number of low temperature records since the mid-1980s.
“While there’s no one definition of what constitutes a ‘heat wave,’ we know that cities throughout the U.S. and around the world have been experiencing more intense and longer-lasting heat waves over the last 60 years,” Dahl said. “If we look globally, the number of days with heatwaves has nearly doubled since the 1980s. During that time, heat waves have also increased in duration.”
California
Extreme heat waves such as the one that hit the Pacific Northwest last year may be 20 times more likely to occur if carbon emissions are not reduced.
Nov. 24, 2022
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest effects of climate change. Each year, extreme heat kills more Americans than any other climate-fueled hazard, including hurricanes, floods and wildfires, but it gets far less attention because it kills so quietly.
A 2021 Times investigation found that California has chronically undercounted the death toll from extreme heat, which disproportionately harms poor people, elderly people and others who are vulnerable.
High temperatures can affect the human body in many ways. Heat can cause dehydration, dizziness and headaches, and can worsen underlying health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Health trackers typically show spikes in deaths related to heart problems during and in the days immediately following heat waves.
A blistering California heat wave in September 2022 killed 395 people, according to state health officials.
Climate & Environment
California chronically undercounts the death toll from extreme heat, which disproportionately harms the poor, the elderly and others who are vulnerable.
Oct. 7, 2021
During Phoenix’s record heat in the summer of 2023, emergency rooms also saw increases in people suffering from pavement burns, as concrete can reach 170 degrees or hotter amid high air temperatures. Officials said many burn patients may have passed out on the pavement due to dehydration, intoxication or other factors that lengthened their exposure and complicated their treatment.
People who work outdoors or otherwise lack air conditioning are particularly at risk of heat-related illness and death during an extreme heat event. California has established heat standards for outdoor workers, but has not yet done the same for indoor workers.
Aside from the health risks, “more frequent, more severe extreme heat also shapes the way we live and experience the world around us, from whether we can enjoy a visit to a national park to whether it’s safe to walk a few blocks to get an ice cream cone,” Dahl said.
That includes effects on ecosystems.
For example, warming temperatures have enabled pests such as bark beetles to survive through the winter and expand their range, which has decimated Western forests. Avery Hill, a postdoctoral researcher at the California Academy of Sciences, noted that for every 1.8 degrees of additional global warming, up to 40% more trees could die from beetle infestations.
Warming temperatures are also implicated in drying out vegetation, which can contribute to larger, faster and more frequent wildfires.
What’s more, forests that don’t recover from severe fires can shift into different ecosystems entirely, which not only affects the range of plants and animals in the area, but can also affect the larger food web, Dahl said.
Climate & Environment
Global surface temperatures last month were 2.25 degrees above the 20th century average of 60.1 degrees, surpassing the record set in August 2016.
Sept. 15, 2023
Earth’s climate has always changed and it will continue to change as a result of things like changes in the shape of our orbit around the sun, Dahl said. However, the changes documented over the last 150 years or so are unprecedented.
There is now more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than at any point in the last 2 million years, she said. Sea levels have risen more quickly over the last century than in any prior century for the last 3,000 years. Glaciers — and the critical freshwater they contain — are retreating at a faster pace than during any period in over 2,000 years.
“The source of these changes is very clear: It is us. We are changing our climate because of our thirst for fossil fuels and the energy they provide,” Dahl said.
From a geological perspective, one could argue that because humans are part of the planet, these changes are natural, or that we shouldn’t do anything to fix our changing climate.
“But the reality is that humans have never lived through this kind of change before,” Dahl said, “and if we want to alleviate the suffering of people, plants and animals that are experiencing this change most acutely, we will have to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels, and sooner rather than later.”
Climate change is transforming the character of the West’s hottest periods — making them more frequent, more persistent, more humid and more lethal. Greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels also play a role, not only by fueling higher air temperatures but also by warming ocean water.

• How climate change is affecting heat waves in the West »

• How to protect yourself and your loved ones from extreme heat »

• As heat waves intensify, access to air conditioning can mean life or death »

• More climate and environment coverage »
May 22, 2024
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Hayley Smith is an environment reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she covers the many ways climate change is reshaping life in California, including drought, floods, wildfires and deadly heat.
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Sean Greene is an assistant data and graphics editor, focused on visual storytelling at the Los Angeles Times.
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Abhinanda Bhattacharyya is a data and graphics journalist at the Los Angeles Times. She has a background in technology, math and education, and previously worked for the interactive storytelling team at National Geographic and the graphics and engineering team at the San Francisco Chronicle. She has a master’s degree in journalism from USC Annenberg.
World & Nation
May 31, 2024
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