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Climate Change Is Fueling Wildfires, Record-Breaking Temperatures & Extreme Weather Events

KC Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA/REX/Shutterstock
San Diego Sheriffs and CDF firefighters stage on Lyons Valley Road during the Valley Fire on Sunday

On this edition of Your Call, we’re discussing what it will take to truly tackle the climate crisis. Nearly 1,000 fires have raged across California since August 15. More than two million acres have already burned and fire season is just beginning.

On Sunday, more than 10 Bay Area cities hit record high temperatures. PG&E shut off power to an estimated 172,000 customers. Scientists say the climate crisis makes extreme weather events more likely and severe. We must act.

Guests:

Michael Mann, distinguished professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State, director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center, and author of several books including The Madhouse Effect

Dr. Chris Dicus, professor with the Wildland Fire and Fuels Management Program at CalPoly State University, and president of the Association for Fire Ecology

Web Resources: 

The Guardian: California fires burn record 2m acres 

Weather, Jonathan Erdman: California Sweltering in All-Time Record Heat and Wildfire Smoke Now Faces Santa Ana Wind Threat 

Heated.world, Emily Atkin: Nothing to see here, folks 

MIT Technology Review: Yes, climate change is almost certainly fueling California’s massive fires 

Earthjustice: CLIMATE, PROGRESSIVE GROUPS DEMAND THE CLIMATE CRISIS BE A MAJOR FOCUS OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES