OPINION: Later is Too Late: Extreme Heat Reminds Us How Crucial This Election is for Arizona

It’s too hot not to vote! 

On Election Day we can vote for the city, state, and federal candidates who understand that climate change is one of the key reasons causing the extreme heat that’s baking us, especially here in the Valley. Our warming planet puts you and the people and places you care about at risk. 

If climate change doesn’t make your list of voting concerns, it should: the two leading presidential candidates couldn’t be more different on the topic. Donald Trump denies it exists and will try to block lawsuits that attempt to hold the oil and gas industry responsible. Kamala Harris has shown she is an advocate for a thoughtful energy transition, voting in favor of tripling the production of clean energy sources like solar and wind and programs that move us away from our dependence on oil and gas for energy. 

She gets it. He doesn’t.

She understands why our planet is running a fever. Burning oil and gas to power our lives has effectively created a heat-trapping blanket around the place we call home. Heat can hurt our people, plants, and animals. Heat traps us inside, making us dependent on MORE energy. Heat intensifies fires. Heat melts ice and reduces snowfall. Heat intensifies the amount of water vapor in the air. 

The warmer it gets, the greater the risk of heavy downpours and massive floods. Heat will impact our agriculture industry which contributes more than $23 billion annually to the state economy. 

But Arizona, and our country, can’t afford to lose four years of action—or worse, become the victim of Donald Trump’s self-serving promises. During his presidency, Donald Trump ended more than 100 environmental protections for clean air and water. He has stated he would be a dictator on day one, would eliminate environmental protections, and “drill baby drill!” 

His plans would increase products for big oil CEOs who fund his campaign and leave us vulnerable to melting pavement and paying more at the pump.   

More heat is headed our way. NASA data shows that 2024 is destined to be the planet’s warmest on record – narrowly beating 2023 as the hottest since at least the 19th century. Last month was the second warmest September on record. 

Everyone in Arizona knows what it feels like. Heat will increase your energy bills, your grocery bills, even your health bills, and will degrade your way of life as it gets increasingly worse here. 

Even if we don’t like everything about the candidates we have to choose between, it’s clear that either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will win. So, when you cast your ballot, remember that later is too late to protect the people and places you love.