The average temperature in Albuquerque was 1.4°F above average in 2006, according to a new report released today by Environment New Mexico Research & Policy Center, Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the United States. The group said this warmer-than-normal weather is indicative of what New Mexico can expect with continued global warming.
“Throw out the record books, because global warming is raising temperatures in New Mexico and across the country,” said Environment New Mexico Advocate, Lauren Ketcham. “The long-term forecast is for more of the same unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from power plants and passenger vehicles,” continued Ketcham.
According to the National Climatic Data Center, the 2006 summer and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007 is on track to be the second warmest year on record globally.
To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, Environment New Mexico Research & Policy Center compared temperature data for the years 2000 through 2006 from 255 weather stations located in all 50 states and Washington, DC with temperatures averaged over the 30 years spanning 1971-2000, or what scientists call the “normal” temperature. New Mexico data included information from three weather stations located in Albuquerque, Clayton and Roswell.
Key findings for New Mexico include:
• In 2006, the average temperature was 1.4°F above normal in Albuquerque. In Clayton and Roswell, New Mexico the average temperature was 2.3°F and 1.8°F above average, respectively. Nationally, the average 2006 temperature was at least 0.5°F above normal at 87% of the locations studied.
• Albuquerque, Clayton and Roswell experienced average minimum temperatures — the lowest temperatures recorded on a given day, usually at night — of 2.8°F, 1.3°F and 1.9°F above normal, respectively, in 2006 and 3°F, 2.6°F and 2.9°F above normal during the 2006 summer. Warmer nighttime temperatures exacerbate the public health effects of heat waves, since people need cooler nighttime temperatures to recover from excessive heat exposure during the day.
In April 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that North America could experience significant water stress, forest fires and “an increased number, intensity and duration of heat waves” as temperatures continue to rise.
“Scientists are sounding alarm bells about the impacts of continued global warming,” stated Ketcham. “The good news is that those same scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by taking bold action now to reduce global warming pollution,” continued Ketcham.
To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the United States must halt increases in global warming emissions now, cut emissions by at least 15-20% by 2020 and slash emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
“The best news is that we have the technology at our fingertips to cut global warming pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Ketcham. “New Mexico is moving ahead with exciting new policies that reduce pollution from new vehicles and increase our use of clean, renewable energy, but if we’re going to reduce emissions to the levels scientists are calling for, we must continue to do more, both in New Mexico and nationally.”
The United States could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes and cars more efficient and generate more electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.
Congress is poised to consider global warming legislation this fall. The Safe Climate Act in the U.S. House and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the U.S. Senate are the only bills that would reduce pollution to levels that scientists say are needed to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
“The heat is on Congress to take decisive action to curb global warming,” stated Ketcham. “Environment New Mexico calls on Senators Bingaman and Domenici and Representatives Wilson, Udall and Pierce to support the only bills that do what scientists say we need to do—the Safe Climate Act and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act,” concluded Ketcham.
