Des Moines, Iowa—As the presidential candidates prepare to discuss some of the most important issues facing our country at their final debate tonight, Environment Iowa released a new report documenting that the average temperature in Des Moines in 2007 was 1.6°F above the historical average. The year 2007 tied for the second warmest year on record globally and was the 10th warmest year on record in the United States. These record temperatures are part of a trend toward rising temperatures resulting from global warming.
“Throw out the record books because global warming is raising temperatures in Iowa and across the country,” said Andrew Hug, Advocate, Environment Iowa. “While one or two degrees may not seem like much, as any parent with a sick child knows, even a small rise in temperature can have a big effect,” he continued.
According to NASA, seven of the eight warmest years on record globally have occurred since 2001. These above-average temperatures led Environment Iowa to more closely examine recent temperature trends at the local level.
“Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the United States” compares government temperature data for the years 2000-2007 with the historical average, or “normal,” temperature for the preceding 30 years, 1971-2000. Our data were collected at 255 weather stations – those with the highest quality data – in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Key findings for Iowa include:
- In 2007, the average temperature was 1.6°F above normal in Des Moines.
- Des Moines’ above-average temperatures in 2007 are part of a warming trend. Between 2000 and 2007, the average temperature was1.7°F above the historical average in Des Moines. Nationally, the average temperature during this eight-year period was at least 0.5°F above normal at nearly 90 percent of the weather stations.
- In 2007, Des Moines experienced average maximum temperatures — the highest temperatures recorded on a given day — of .7°F above normal.
- Des Moines experienced average minimum temperatures — the lowest temperatures recorded on a given day, usually at night — of 1.9°F above normal in 2007. Warmer nighttime summer temperatures exacerbate the public health effects of extreme heat, since people need cooler nighttime temperatures to recover from excessive heat exposure during the day.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – the prestigious United Nations body that won a Nobel Prize last year for its work – has concluded the evidence of global warming is “unequivocal” and that human activities are responsible for most of the increase in global average temperatures. Burning fossil fuels to power cars, homes, and industry produces most U.S. global warming emissions.
“Global Warming will pose ever more serious consequences for Iowa agriculture, and the World Food Prize discussions which begin in Des Moines today will describe just how dramatic the harm will be to food production worldwide,” said Hug.
A recent Bush administration report stated “it is very likely” that more people will die in the United States during extremely hot periods in the future. In addition, the report identified heat waves, drought, and extreme rainfall with flooding as particular risks for the Midwest region.
Energy issues have featured prominently in both presidential and vice-presidential debates this election season. “We’re at a crossroads on energy, and it’s up to the next President to choose a new path - one that curbs global warming and helps recharge our struggling economy,” said Andrew Snow, Director of the Iowa Global Warming Campaign.
“It’s clear that our energy crisis isn’t just hurting us at home and at the pump, it’s also causing Iowans to feel the heat. But as Iowans know, there is good news - renewable energy is one of the few bright spots in our troubled economy; and repowering America with clean wind and solar power will curb global warming and create jobs,” said Snow.
According to the latest climate science, the United States and the world must break its dependence on fossil fuels and transition rapidly to 100 percent clean, renewable energy if we hope to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming.
Specifically, the United States must reduce its global warming emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050 and make energy efficiency improvements and the accelerated development of renewable energy the centerpiece of our environmental and economic development policies.
Recently, more than 150 members of Congress, including Representatives Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack, endorsed strong principles for action on energy and global warming. Environment America urged that those principles be the blueprint for action for the next President and Congress.
“We commend Representatives Boswell, Braley and Loebsack for their leadership on this critical issue by endorsing those principles and for cosponsoring the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590), strong science-based legislation that would put the United States on track to solving global warming and creating green jobs. Environment Iowa urges Representatives Tom Latham and Steve King to sign on as well” concluded Hug.
Get the Full Report.
###
Environment Iowa is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization.
