New NWF Report: Heat Waves Threaten Cities, Farmers, Wildlife

The National Wildlife Federation issued a new report today, More Extreme Heat Waves: Global Warming’s Wake Up Call. From USA Today’s coverage of the report:

The nation is headed for strong heat waves in coming decades that will hit cities and farmers and threaten wildlife with extinction, a new global warming report warns. […]

“Heat waves worsen not only direct effects like heat stroke but also heart disease, asthma and other respiratory problems,” says Peter Wilk of Physicians for Social Responsibility in Washington, D.C., a report sponsor. The 1995 Chicago heat wave killed more than 500 people, and the 2003 European heat wave killed more than 35,000, he adds.

“People in cities, the poor and often people of color, are the most vulnerable,” says Benjamin Jealous, head of the NAACP, another report sponsor. “They are most likely to live in high-rise apartments, lack air conditioning and other resources. Climate change is a civil rights issue.”

Here’s a video explaining the report:

You can read the full report at NWF.org/ExtremeWeather.