With summer comes nice, sunny weather. However, with the impacts of climate change it also means hotter temperatures, drier conditions, more frequent and severe wildfires (the 2015 wildfire season was the largest in Washington state history), possible heat strokes, water shortages and more negative impacts.
Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a snowpack drought because of the lack of snowpack to provide a fresh supply of water for the summer. The summer’s hotter and drier temperatures also brings the largest demand for water when we have the lowest supply. Last month, temperatures topped the 90s for the first time this year in Seattle. Seattle averages only three days of 90-degree-plus heat each year. Last summer, Seattle sweltered through a record 12 days of 90s.
The impacts of climate change will only worsen with time, and hopefully people realize how truly destructive fossil fuels are and how urgent it is to act now. Luckily, the recent oil train explosion did not arrive at Tacoma yet or leak into the Columbia River.
This year, we can and ought to act on climate change and prevent the most catastrophic impacts from happening to our friends, family, neighbors and future generations. Vote yes on I-732 (yeson732.org) to disincentivize the use of fossil fuels and fight climate change in November.
– Aaron Tam
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