The
climate is changing. Cities in America where more than 80% of the
nation’s population lives, are disproportionately affected by these
changes, not only because of their huge populations but because of
their existing – often inadequate – infrastructure. In
urban areas, heatwaves are exacerbated by vehicles, industrial
processes and the presence of heat-retaining concrete and asphalt.
And it is in cities – especially in low-lying poorer areas –
where record rainfall often accumulates.
“From
a disaster perspective, heat is invisible,” says Kurt Shickman,
executive director of the Global
Cool Cities Alliance.
Mitra likens the problem to having a finger in a pan of water while
someone gradually turns up the heat. “Maybe in 50 or 60 years,
living in some cities will be unbearable. There could be a tipping
point of no return.”
A
study by
the University of Maryland published this year predicts that by 2080,
Denver will be as hot and wet as Borger, Texas, about 50 miles (80km)
north of Amarillo; Philadelphia will feel warmer and drier – more
like Memphis, Tennessee, and New York City will be up to 9F (5C)
warmer, with a climate similar to Jonesboro, Arkansas.
How
the climate crisis will impact US cities?
Deaths.
According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 658
people die every year from heat-related causes. From 1999 to 2010,
8,081 heat-related deaths were reported in the United States and
occurred more commonly among older, younger and poorer populations.
Urban heat islands retain heat overnight, preventing people from
sleeping well and leading to even more health problems, says Lucy
Hutyra, an associate professor of earth and environment at Boston
University. Air pollution is often worst on hot days, and when people
leaven windows open for air flow, the quality of the air can cause
respiratory problems. Warmer, moister conditions also mean that heavy
rainfall and subsequent flooding is on the rise; so far this year 78
people have died as a result, according to the National Weather
Service.
Power
outages.
As experienced by New Yorkers this year, excessive heat in
conjunction with excess demand for electricity for air conditioning
can cause the grid – or portions of it – to fail. “Energy
demand is going to go up,” says Shickman. “It’s a substantial
and nonlinear reaction. Our grid is going to be taxed in ways I don’t
think we are prepared for.” Shickman says that going from an 80F
day to a 90F day would require an additional 20-25% power. Going to
95F requires almost 40% more power. Excess heat can also evaporate
water needed to cool power plants, forcing some out of commission.
Infrastructure
failures.
In addition to electricity grid problems, asphalt can melt in excess
temperatures; rail tracks expand; and can even affect airports –
currently some airplanes can’t take off from Phoenix airport, for
example, when the temperature exceeds 118F because the air is too
dense. Heat is a problem for all areas of city governance, said
Shickman. “If you ask any sort of department head what is your
biggest challenge, heat is probably not number one, but I guarantee
you it’s somewhere between number two and number five.” But, he
says, unfortunately there are no “heat czars” to manage the
issue. Flooding, too, can wreak havoc on a city’s infrastructure,
from blowing out bridges and roads to inundating water treatment
plants.
Economic
Impact.
According to a 2018 study by Texas A&M University: “The growing
number of extreme rainfall events that produce intense precipitation
are resulting in –and will continue to result in – increased
urban flooding unless steps are taken to mitigate their impacts.”
The 2017 National Climate Assessment concluded: “Heavy downpours
are increasing nationally, especially over the last three to five
decades …[and that] … increases in the frequency and intensity of
extreme precipitation events are projected for all U.S. regions.”
Between 2007 and 2011 alone, urban flooding in Cook County, Illinois,
resulted in over 176,000 claims or flood losses at a cost of $660m
(£545m).
Almost
daily we see news of climate change events: heat waves, wild fires,
melting glaciers, floods, violent storms, rising seas. And we also
see news of increasing preparations for war: increased armament
spending on new sophisticated weaponry, threats and counter-threats,
military manoeuvres. But the real war is the class war, where only the
victory of working people can end the existential threats of global
warming and global warfare. Something is wrong, don’t you think,
with our priorities?
The
climate crisis has arrived it is accelerating, threatening humanity.
It should be obvious that maximum international cooperation is needed
to reduce and reverse climate heating if we are to prevent the
collapse of civilisation. But we are fixated on retaining and
maintaining capitalism.
Our
species is unique in the ability to modify ecosystems as a means to
support our planet's many peoples. The Socialist Party calls for a
society in which all activities will be coordinated and at the same
time, be sufficiently flexible to permit a great autonomy for social
life and enough collaboration to prevent disorganisation and
disorder.
Global
warming and the environmental crisis is one of the greatest
challenges facing humanity. The uncontrolled exploitation and gross
waste of resources typical of capitalism, is the source of this
disaster. Capitalism today leads to people and nature being
alienated. Shortsighted hunt for profit, neglects and abuse of
science under capitalism destroy the world’s environment at an
accelerating speed. Science, technology and industry can be positive
and beneficial to society, but private property and the priorities
of the ruling class create great problems. Our answer is that working
people must organise to overthrow those who threaten the existence of
the people of the world. Only a planned socialist economy has the
capability to remedy a future climate catastrophe. Socialism is a
society developed and built in correspondence with the laws of
development for human society as well as for nature.
