EPA Releases Climate Indicators Showing Climate Change Impact

EPA Releases Latest Climate Change Indicators Report Highlighting Severe Impacts
Washington, D.C. (July 2, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the Fifth Edition of its "Climate Change Indicators in the United States" report, revealing alarming data on how climate change is increasingly affecting human health and the environment across the nation.
Key Findings:

• Rising Temperatures: 2023 was recorded as the warmest year globally, with 2014-2023 marking the hottest decade since records began.
• Heat Waves: The frequency and duration of heat waves in U.S. cities have surged, with an average of six heat waves per year in recent decades, compared to two per year in the 1960s.
• Workplace Heat-Related Deaths: From 1992 to 2022, 986 workers died due to heat exposure, with the construction sector being the hardest hit.
• Marine Heat Waves: Increased in intensity and frequency, particularly off the Northeastern U.S. and Alaskan coasts.
• Species Migration: Economically important marine species are shifting northward due to warming waters.
• Coastal Flooding: Tidal flooding has become more frequent since the 1950s, especially in Hawai’i, and along the East and Gulf coasts.
• Wildfires: The area affected by wildfires has dramatically increased, with the largest burns recorded since 2004.
• Growing Season: The growing season in the contiguous U.S. has extended by over two weeks since the early 20th century.
• Snowpack Reduction: The snowpack season has shortened by about 15 days on average since 1982.
• Arctic Sea Ice: September 2023 saw the fifth smallest sea ice extent on record, with the ice melting season extending by 37 days since 1979.
  EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the report’s role in tracking climate change’s escalating impact, aiding informed efforts to combat the crisis and build resilience. The comprehensive publication underscores the urgency of climate action to protect health, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
  For detailed insights and data, the full report is available for download on the EPA’s website.