The times of an occasional stretch of scorching summer days are behind us. Three environmental experts say extreme heat, which recently reached the 90s in New England and triple-digits in places like Washington, D.C., is here to stay.

“New England is the fastest-warming area of the United States,” said Dr. Gaurab Basu, director of education and policy at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Basu said climate change has major and widespread affects on people’s health, from increased risk of strokes and heart attacks to affecting children’s cognitive development.

Along with skyrocketing temperatures come warmer waters, making the planet’s oceans more hospitable to more intense hurricanes, like early-season storm Beryl.

Beth Daley, executive editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S., said Beryl is an example of a phenomenon scientists call rapid intensification.

“That’s basically when a hurricane’s intensity goes from a tropical storm up to major hurricane strength in 24 hours,” Daley said. “Beryl jumped from a tropical storm strength at 70 mph to major hurricane at 130 mph in 24 hours. That’s just simply unheard of. The measure for rapid intensification is that a hurricane’s intensity increases by 35 mph over a 24-hour period, and that rarely happens.”

With extreme heat, massive hurricanes and floods all taking place in the United States virtually simultaneously, the effects of climate change are now on display more than ever. And some state governments are taking direct action. Recently, Vermont became the first state in the nation to enact a law to hold oil companies accountable for damage caused by climate change.

Although lawsuits against oil companies have been attempted before, Cabell Eames, advocacy director for the Charles River Watershed Association, said regardless of the efficacy of the bill, this puts a spotlight on fossil-fuel companies and their role.

“It allows for more conversation to be had regarding renewable energy and how states need to move to cite it and permit it quickly,” Eames said. “Obviously, this is not an immediate fix in the sense of getting money in the pockets of states to be able to do the mitigation and adaptation work. But what it does do is keep the fossil-fuel industry on defense.”

Those stories and more on this week’s environmental news roundtable.

GUESTS

  • Beth Daley, executive editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S. 
  • Dr. Gaurab Basu, director of education and policy at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
  • Cabell Eames, advocacy director of the Charles River Watershed Association