Summertime…and the Living Ain’t Easy
Since the 1970s, summers have been getting hotter—everywhere.
The Northern Hemisphere celebrated the longest day of the year yesterday, and like any decent holiday, the summer solstice deserves a healthy dose of reflection. So let’s take a moment to think about this: We have just headed into a season that, thanks to us, is getting hotter and hotter. This Climate Central map breaks down warming trends since 1970 by region, and from the Ohio Valley’s two-degree rise to the Southwest’s 3.6, every section of the country has gotten warmer overall.
Hot days don’t just lead to a bump in lemonade-stand sales and water-gun fights—air pollution, heat-related illnesses, and electricity bills go up, too.
onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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