Arizona

Global climate change poses risks to human health and to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Important economic resources such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and water resources also may be affected. Warmer temperatures, more severe droughts and floods, and sea level rise could have a wide range of impacts. All these stresses can add to existing stresses on resources caused by other influences such as population growth, land-use changes, and pollution.

Climate Change in Arizona

Below are some of the potential impacts:

• Over the last century, the average temperature in Tucson, Arizona, has increased 3.6°F, and precipitation has increased by up to 20% in many parts of the state, except in the northwest part of the state where precipitation has fallen by 20%.
• By 2100 temperatures in Arizona could increase by another 3-4°F in the spring and fall, and by 5°F in the winter and summer. Precepitation is estimated to decrease slightly in the summer, and to increase by 60% in winter.
• The frequency of extreme hot days in the summer would likely increase because of this general warming trend. A warmer climate means that, in much of the state, the intensity of summer storms could increase. Cities such as Tucson are vulnerable to flash flooding caused by intense, summer thunderstorms.
• Increased runoff from heavy rainfall could increase water-borne diseases such as giardia, cryptosporidia, and viral and bacterial gastroenteritides. San Joaquim Valley fever is present in the deserts of southern California, Arizona, and Nevada. There is evidence that populations of this soil-based organism increase when extreme rainfall follows periods of drought.
• A warmer climate could mean less winter snowfall, more winter rain, and a faster, earlier snowmelt. This may lead to higher winter and spring flows and the passing of flood waters that are usually stored for use later in the summer.
• Without substantial increases in rainfall, as seen in the northwestern part of the state, higher temperatures and increased evaporation could lower lake levels and streamflows in the summer. In addition, a decrease in spring and summer recharge would result in a decline in groundwater levels. Less water would be available to support important uses such as irrigation, hydropower production, public and industrial supply, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation.

The above are based on from the Environmental Protection Agency's report on climate change, which uses data from the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001).

For more info on climate change impacts on Arizona's water resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, you can download pdf of full EPA Report.

CO2: How Does Your State Rank?

Arizona is the highest emitter of C02 of all 50 states and the most populous.

See all rankings

Maps

See CO2 output by sector, coastal population maps, and maps of regional initiatives.

Regional Initiatives

In the absence of federal action, many U.S. states are banding together to explore and employ greenhouse gas-reducing policies.

Arizona participates in the following:

Southwest Climate Change Initiative

Western Governors' Association (WGA): Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative

Western Regional Climate Action Initiative

Learn about climate initiatives in all U.S. states and regions

Your Impact

Estimate your CO2 footprint by using a carbon calculator such as the one on the Inconvenient Truth web site.

How green is your energy? The EPA has a power profiler that can tell you.