The Labor Department is developing a standard for how workplaces deal with heat. Thursday’s announcement follows other steps that the Biden administration has taken to adapt to increasing threats from extreme heat. “I’m confident that the state best known for oil and gas production can help lead the way to a greener tomorrow,” he said. No other major city - defined as the 25 most populous in the United States - has had any stretch of 110 F (38 C) days or 90-degree (32 C) nights longer than Phoenix, said weather historian Christopher Burt, of the Weather Company. Phoenix has seen at least 27 days in a row of temperatures exceeding 110 F (43.3 C). Phoenix is the first in the nation to have a permanent, publicly funded heat office, Gallego said, with efforts now focused on getting residents inside as much as possible, at public cooling centers and encouraging use of water stations throughout the city. We feel like we are very much on the front lines of climate change.” It’s taking a real toll on our community. But right now, this summer has really been unprecedented. “We are often called the Valley of the Sun. “Phoenix is known for heat,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. The mayors of Phoenix and San Antonio, two cities that have suffered from the heat waves, participated in the White House event virtually. The Biden administration plans to spend $7 million to develop more detailed weather predictions to anticipate extreme weather like heat waves, plus $152 million to boost drinking water infrastructure and climate resilience in California, Colorado and Washington.īiden was joined on Thursday by acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, as well as the leaders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The steps announced Thursday supplement his long-term agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deploying clean energy technology, policies that may not pay dividends for years to come while global temperatures continue to rise.īiden directed the Labor Department to increase inspections of potentially dangerous workplaces such as farms and construction sites and called for heightened enforcement of heat safety violations.Īs part of the initiative, the department will issue a hazard alert notifying employers and employees about ways to stay protected from extreme heat, which has killed 436 workers since 2011, according to federal statistics. “Even those who deny that we’re in the midst of a climate crisis can’t deny the impact of extreme heat is having on Americans.”īiden’s bid to address the immediate effects of climate change come as he faces pressure from fellow Democrats and environmental groups to declare a climate “emergency,” a step he has so far resisted. “Even those places that are used to extreme heat have never seen it as hot as it is now for as long as it’s been,” Biden said. 1 weather-related killer in the United States. Noting that ocean temperatures near Miami topped 100 F (38 C), Biden said “that’s more like jumping in a hot tub than jumping into the ocean to ride a wave.”Ĭiting federal data, Biden called extreme heat the No. It’s a worldwide problem, and scientists calculate that July will be the hottest month on record. Washington won’t be spared, and the heat index in the capital could reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 degrees Celsius on Friday. High temperatures have already scorched the Southwest this month, and more heat is expected in the Midwest and the Northeast in the coming days. population faces heat advisories, according to the National Weather Service. The actions come as nearly 40% of the U.S. WASHINGTON (AP) - With heat waves spreading across the United States, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new steps to protect workers - including a hazard alert notifying employers and employees about ways to stay safe from extreme heat - as well as measures to improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible.
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