There's a Reason it's Getting Hotter in Arizona...it's Climate Change, Stupid!

Why I've Joined the Board of a Nonprofit Called 'American Resiliency'

In 1824, French physicist Joseph Fourier proposed that the atmosphere traps heat, creating the greenhouse effect, which explains why Earth is warmer than its distance from the sun suggests. In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius calculated that adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere could lead to warming. Nearly 100 years later, in the 1970s, scientific discussions on human-caused climate change grew more prominent, with a secret CIA report from 1974 highlighting climate change as an emerging factor in international relations and intelligence problems.

By 2009, the Paris climate agreement warned that the global “tipping point” for climate change was an increase of 2 degrees celsius. Last year the global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the first full year to do so.

Scientists are still arguing about when we might hit 2°C, but they have long since stopped arguing about whether we will hit it or not. It is just a matter of when.

Depending on where you live, you may already be feeling the effects of climate change. If, like me, you live in Arizona, there is no argument it is getting hotter. According to the National Weather Service, the first two decades of the 21st century were the warmest period on record for Arizona.

But this post is not about the facts of climate change. The thing about facts is they are true whether you believe them or not. This is a post about what to do about climate change, especially if you live in a region that has already begun to see significant change.

I have been interested in the environment for as long as I can remember. More than three decades ago I read Earth in the Balance by Al Gore. Over the years I have joined numerous activist groups, from Greenpeace to The Climate Reality Project to 350.org. I have watched countless politicians talk about action, and others enact policy that flies in the face of action. I’ve heard leaders say climate change is an existential threat to humankind. I’ve heard politicians say it’s a hoax. But regardless of what they say, or even what they do when they are in office, one thing has remained consistent — nothing tangible has been done to slow the rise in temperature. And I don’t think anything will get done.

I say all this to make a simple point. It is time to give up on the delusion that world leaders will save us and instead take matters into our own hands. And while no one person can impact the climate of an entire planet, you can make decisions to positively improve your own situation.

I can’t help you if you are in denial. If you think climate change is a hoax, or even if you think it’s real but it isn’t a big deal or won’t affect you, you can stop reading now. Go with God. For the rest of you, keep reading to learn how even in a time of government malfeasance you can make decisions based on science to positively impact the situation of yourself and your family.

A while back I was introduced to a YouTube channel called American Resiliency. On the channel, Dr. Emily Schoerning and a group of loyal volunteers share scientific information about climate designed specifically to provide information to help average Americans make decisions to become more resilient.

From her home office in Iowa, Dr. Schoerning delivers science education and explains what the latest climate science means for the average American. American Resiliency is a nonprofit, and to date it has posted more than 400 videos and built an audience of nearly 14,000 followers and growing. I am a follower, and as of today I am also excited to share that I have joined the board.

What makes American Resiliency different from other climate-related nonprofits? For me, as I explained above, I think the time for global action has passed and the time for individual action is now. Does that make me a pessimist? I don’t think so, given the world has known about human-caused climate change for a century and done very little about it. With all due respect to Greta Thunberg, Bill McKibben, and Leonardo DiCaprio, no amount of carbon credits, wind farms, or electric cars is going to keep us from exceeding the 2°C point in our lifetime. I think it’s okay to continue to protest and vote appropriately, but I think the time has come to take action to protect my own family.

I realize it may be a moot point. It is possible the planet will become unlivable in my lifetime and we’re staring at a real-life version of Mad Max. If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do to protect my family from masked marauders coming to steal my last gallon of potable water. All kidding aside, I don’t think that’s where we’re headed. But I do think I will see some scary shit in my lifetime, and I shudder to think about what my kid will face in the decades ahead.

I do believe we’ll see more deadly wildfires and more devastating weather in the very near term. I also believe humanity faces more than a handful of dire consequences, including:

• Extreme heat conditions that will become even more deadly (602 people died in Maricopa County last year alone from heat)

• Worsening air quality

• Serious threats to food production and increased food scarcity

• Forced migrations and mass displacement

• Energy infrastructure damage

• The collapse of the AMOC

• Sea-level rise

I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic. I think I’m just paying attention. I’m no prepper. Nobody is suggesting you stockpile food, water and ammunition — although there are some people doing just that. I also do not believe society will collapse — although there are communities of people who do think we’re headed in that direction. The truth is if you ask me what is the most likely scenario that will bring on the collapse of humanity I’d put my money on a global pandemic, followed by artificial intelligence taking over! Hell, there are tons of ways humankind can come to an end but I don’t lose sleep at night about most of them because there’s nothing I can do. But when it comes to climate change, there is something I can do. I can use scientific information to make smart decisions for my family.

So what is it about American Resiliency that I feel so strongly about that I wanted to join the board? I simply no longer trust the government (or the media) to provide me with scientifically sound information about the climate. I think we can all agree that the Trump administration is destroying the scientific infrastructure of our government and that we can’t rely on it to provide factual data. We’re also seeing American scientists thinking about or actually leaving the U.S. which will further degrade the science coming out of the U.S. This summer the Trump administration even took down the National Climate Assessment website. Thankfully, some quick-thinking people grabbed the data before it went dark, and American Resiliency and similar organizations posted it. This is where we are in the U.S. today — citizens have to hack the government to access data we pay for.

The threats are real, but what I like about American Resiliency is it empowers people to make educated decisions about their lives. This may not be a huge priority for you if you live in a somewhat climate secure region of the country, but for those of us in the danger zones quality information is the only thing we can count on.

When it comes to living in Phoenix I think Peggy Hill said it best: “this city should not exist. It is a monument to man’s arrogance.” Still, it is my home and has been for the past 31 years. What I can tell you with no uncertainty is that it has gotten hotter in my time living here, and we’ve had more days of extreme heat. If you want to know why you always see me in San Diego or Flagstaff during the summer it’s because getting the hell out of here in the summer is the only way to survive living here.

Phoenix is truly on the frontlines of climate change. Last week we lost power during a storm for about 90 minutes and all I could think of is what happens when we lose power for a few days in the middle of summer? Thousands of people will die. It’s no joke. Not only is the heat an issue here, but water scarcity is becoming an even bigger challenge. Our politicians claim we have reserves or that we’ll be okay, but they know fuck all. The simple fact is that we get 40 percent of our water from the Colorado River and not only is the river drying up from loss of snowpack in the Rockies but out of seven states that get water from the river Arizona is last on the priority list created by the Colorado River Compact.

What is Arizona going to look like at a 2°C increase? Well, watch this video from last year to find out.

By now you may be asking why I haven’t left if it’s so bad? It’s not that easy to pick up and leave the place you’ve called home for three decades. We have jobs and family and friends here. We are not ready to retire. That said, we are starting to make plans to leave and American Resiliency is playing a huge part in the decision making process. There’s no use leaving Arizona only to end up in a place that is likely to suffer its own climate disasters.

Where can we go? Much of the west is seeing an increase in deadly wildfires due to climate change. Talk about getting out of the frying pan into the fire. Florida will be under water soon, the Southeast is seeing more and more deadly hurricanes. Texas and the rest of the southwest is also getting hotter. Generally speaking, most experts suggest the Great Lakes region and the Northeast are best as they are safer from sea level rise and have moderate temperatures. Moderate temperatures? Really? Do Minnesota and Michigan have moderate temperatures? I’m not going to do well anywhere there is snow, let alone the kind of cold temperatures you see in the upper Midwest or even Vermont.

American Resiliency is designed to help us decide where to go. Even within a region there are places that are better than others. In the west a place like Denver or Boise is going to be better than Los Angeles. Just ask the folks who lost their homes in the Palisades fire earlier this year about how climate secure things are in LA.

Eventually, we’re going to go somewhere. Our kid has decided on the Big Island of Hawaii which is very climate resilient compared to the rest of the U.S. They swear we’re destined to end up living off the grid on their farm with them. But until then, we’re going to keep looking around the mainland!

And I’m going to work on behalf of American Resiliency to keep the science coming despite the failings of our government. Seriously, it’s time to put yourself and your family first. Stay informed. Make decisions based on science. Support organizations like American Resiliency that are doing the work to keep us protected.

Meanwhile, stay informed and subscribe to the American Resiliency YouTube channel.