'We thought it wouldn't affect us': heatwave forces climate reckoning in Pacific north-west

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) The record heatwave in the Pacific north-west is forcing a reckoning on the climate crisis, as many living in the typically mild region consider what rising temperatures mean for the future.

A “heat dome” without parallel trapped hot air over much of the states of Oregon and Washington in the United States, and southern British Columbia in Canada, in past days, shattering weather records in the usually temperate region.

Temperatures in tiny Lytton, British Columbia, hit 49.6C (121.3F) and set a Canadian all-time record, days before a wildfire tore through the town. Roads buckled under the heat in Washington and Oregon. Heat and heavy air conditioner use knocked out power for tens of thousands. The dead, thought to number in the hundreds, are not yet counted.

In Washington and Oregon, largely liberal, climate-conscious states, efforts to combat global heating have long been popular. The Washington governor, Jay Inslee, put himself forward as the “climate candidate” during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. He argued residents of the region would, in the absence of federal leadership, “do our part to address a global problem”. .............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/03/pacific-northwest-heat-dome-climate-change

[KT2000]

1. I have heard that more than once -

"Didn't think it would affect us in my lifetime."

[MagickMuffin]

2. And yet people right here on DU were mocking Texans over heat issues

They bragged about not ever needing AC and they could just open their windows and everything was grand.


I will never mock or make fun of people over conditions they have no control over and can effectively kill said people.

[pnwmom]

3. I was one of the people who thought the measures taken in TX to raise AC to 78 weren't terrible

because 78 is a reasonable summer temperature and it's what we live with here (and into the 80's) without air-conditioning. Also, too much air-conditioning powered by carbon sources increases the problem of global warming, so that's another reason for raising the thermostat to 78, depending on the power source.

But you missed the fact that this article is referring to people in British Columbia as thinking they were protected from global warming. The article points out that Oregon and Washington HAVE been taking it very seriously. It was, in fact, a major part of Gov. Inslee's platform when he ran for President.

[pnwmom]

4. "In Washington and Oregon . . .efforts to combat global heating have long been popular."

The article is contrasting that with parts of the Canadian northwest.