Arizona Republicans Dismiss Climate Crisis Amid Scorching Heat and Dire Drought Conditions

Last month was the hottest June on record in Phoenix, with an average temperature of 97 degrees. The city’s heat wave last summer broke records, experiencing 31 consecutive days at 110 degrees or higher, surpassing the 18-day record set in 1974.

The Rocky Mountain snowpack is in decline, exacerbating a two-decade-long drought in the Colorado River system. Globally, extreme weather events such as wildfires, floods, and droughts are becoming more frequent and severe.

Climatologists unanimously agree that human activities are accelerating climate change through the trapping of greenhouse gases. However, Arizona Republicans in Congress are resistant to this scientific consensus.

“Just because a scientist says something doesn’t mean it’s true,” said Rep. Eli Crane, R-Oro Valley, during an interview at the U.S. Capitol. Echoing similar sentiments, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Bullhead City, dismissed climate science in a recent newsletter, equating it to a “death cult.”

In the upcoming U.S. Senate primary, Kari Lake, facing Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, also expressed skepticism. “Newsflash, it’s hot in Arizona in the summer,” she remarked during an interview.

Despite such skepticism, data from the Union of Concerned Scientists indicates that carbon dioxide levels are the highest they’ve been in 800,000 years. The 12 warmest years on record occurred since 1998.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports a 40% increase in CO2 levels since the 1700s, attributing this rise primarily to industrialization. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supports these findings, citing human activities as the main cause of global warming in its March 2023 report.

Democrats view climate change denial as a significant political vulnerability for their opponents. President Joe Biden emphasized this point on July 2, urging readiness for extreme heat this summer. Former President Donald Trump, however, has labeled climate change a “hoax,” reflecting a broader Republican resistance to transitioning from fossil fuels.

A Pew Research Center survey highlights the partisan divide on this issue, with only 12% of Republicans prioritizing climate change, compared to nearly 60% of Democrats. The Arizona Department of Water Resources links the state’s worsening drought to climate change, with the EPA forecasting severe repercussions for Arizona if no improvements are made.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, has consistently denied the occurrence of climate change, a stance echoed by Reps. David Schweikert, R-Fountain Hills, and Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, who have both shown skepticism. In various past interviews, these representatives have downplayed human impact on climate change, attributing changes to natural cycles.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, Republican representatives from Arizona maintain their stance, with no indication of evolving views. NASA confirms that recent global warming is not driven by solar activity.

Surveys show that Arizona voters are deeply concerned about climate change, desiring more government action. Freshman Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Tucson, acknowledges the importance of environmental care but stops short of fully embracing climate change science, focusing instead on preserving Arizona’s natural beauty.