DEEP DIVE: EPA Report Shows Climate Change Is Becoming a Critical Component of Our Lives

21 July 2024 had the distinction of being the hottest day on record, according to an analysis by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) of global daily temperature data, with a global average temperature of 62.76°F. That record lasted one day and was broken on 22 July 2024.

“In a year that has been the hottest on record to date, these past two weeks have been particularly brutal,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

These extreme temperatures, as well as other indicators of climate change, are part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases, according to NASA.

Earlier in the month, on 2 July 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the fifth edition of Climate Change Indicators in the United States, a comprehensive presentation of the data-based evidence for climate change and its potential impact on human health and the environment.

According to EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, the report demonstrates the extent to which climate change is becoming a critical component of everyone’s lives.

“Extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires have become more common, harming human health, threatening livelihoods, and causing costly damage,” said Regan. “Regular updates to the data in the Climate Change Indicators website and report help us track these unprecedented changes so we are better informed in our shared work to confront the crisis.”

The report aims to help citizens, public organizations, and governments identify the evidence for climate change to enhance their approach to risk mitigation and social, environmental, and economic resilience.