The World Cup is Here And So Is Dangerous Extreme Heat
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Washington, DC – As the World Cup kicks off today, extreme heat will put players and fans at greater risk. This year has already broken records for extreme heat, and this summer could be even worse with the El Niño expected to bring more dangerous heat waves. World Cup fans aren’t the only ones who will be impacted by heat waves this summer. Trump is canceling funding for extreme heat resilience initiatives that would protect communities against the deadly impacts of extreme heat. Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, Trump is proposing eliminating funding to help low-income Americans pay for cooling costs as electricity prices spike by 16% under his watch.
John Morales, Meteorologist and Climate Power Co-Chair, issued the following statement: “As the World Cup kicks off, much of the country is facing dangerous heat waves fueled by climate change. Extreme heat is deadly, and players, workers, and fans are going to be at risk. Those suffering from heat-related illnesses may not recognize their symptoms until it’s too late. Imagine Scottish supporters in Miami’s infamous heat and humidity in late June, or Japanese and Swedish fans in the triple-digit Dallas heat. This and future World Cups will need to take extra precautions to keep people safe during heat waves.”
Climate-fueled heat waves are putting lives at risk and driving up costs:
- Extreme heat is the deadliest climate-fueled hazard, claiming more lives annually than hurricanes, floods, and wildfires combined.
- Heat causes at least 170,000 work-related injuries and as many as 2,000 worker fatalities annually.
- Outdoor workers are 35 times more likely to die of heat stress than the general population.
- Extreme heat is increasing healthcare costs: emergency department visits and hospital admissions due to heat-related or heat-adjacent illness cost $1 billion each summer.
- As extreme heat intensifies, 69% of Americans say that heat has driven up their energy bills at a time when utility bills are up by 16% nationwide.
- Summer cooling costs are increasing, with experts estimating that the average household will spend nearly $800 on electricity this summer.