Climate Change is Heating Up Faster Than Ever—And Everyone's Feeling It

Tony Hicks August 28, 2024

Maine's Lakes Aren't So Cool Anymore!
Climate change is turning Maine’s famously cool lakes into lukewarm bathwater. The state's nearly 6,000 lakes and ponds, known for their clear and pristine waters, are now experiencing record-high temperatures earlier in the summer than ever before. Locals like Bonnie Knightly, who has been visiting Maine’s Range Pond for years, can’t believe how warm the water is, even at the beginning of August. It’s a wake-up call: if even Maine’s lakes are overheating, where can we escape the climate nightmare? Maine Public.
The False Promise of CO2 Storage
Think we can just store CO2 underground and call it a day? Think again. A new study from Imperial College London finds that the idea of storing CO2 underground to combat climate change isn’t the silver bullet we hoped for. It turns out there are significant limitations and risks to this method, meaning we can't just keep polluting and assume we can hide our carbon emissions underground. The more we dig into solutions, the more we realize there are no easy fixes—just hard truths. ScienceDaily.
Record-Breaking Heat is the New Normal in the U.S.
Guess what’s cooking? The entire eastern half of the United States! Around 120 million people are enduring heat conditions that are three times more likely due to climate change. High temperatures are breaking records from the Midwest to the East Coast, with heat indices pushing up to a sweltering 115°F. Climate change has made this extreme heat far more common, and with no significant reduction in carbon emissions in sight, this might just be the beginning of our sweaty, unbearable future. Climate Central.
Coastal Cities Are Drowning in Denial
Coastal cities better wake up, and fast! A study from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München warns that these areas are woefully unprepared for the accelerating impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Despite the clear and present dangers, adaptation measures are lagging behind. We can’t keep ignoring the signs—if cities don’t adapt now, they could face catastrophic consequences. ScienceDaily.
Midwest "Corn Sweat" Is Making Heat Even Stickier
As if extreme heat wasn't enough, the Midwest is now dealing with something called “corn sweat.” That’s right, crops are sweating, adding even more humidity to the air, making summers unbearably sticky. With climate change pushing temperatures higher, this natural process exacerbates the already stifling conditions, contributing to a cycle of discomfort and danger. Midwest, brace yourselves—it’s only getting hotter and sweatier from here on out. Press Democrat.