Oil-rich countries brace for deadly heat

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Aug 09, 2023 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by Williams Laborers avoid the sun as they work on road construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo Extreme heat is coming for us all. But countries that produce the fossil fuels causing climate change are expected to really bake — and air conditioning only goes so far, writes Sara Schonhardt. The Persian Gulf region, already one of the hottest on Earth, could suffer temperatures so extreme that being outside becomes a literal death trap. This July — the hottest month in recorded history — the heat index in Iran hit 152 degrees Fahrenheit. (The human body stops being able to cool itself at 95 F, but anything over 86 F can be dangerous or even deadly.) It’s an example of how atmospheric pollution can turn an environment “from one that’s merely inhospitable to one that is actually intolerable,” Colin Raymond, a climate scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., told Sara. Preventing the worst of global warming requires cutting planet-warming emissions swiftly and aggressively, namely by phasing out oil and gas production. But many in the region, like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, plan to continue investing in fossil fuels, which remain central to their economies. To combat the debilitating heat, some Gulf cities have instead built elaborate air-conditioned spaces to escape summer’s melt — paid for, in part, with oil wealth. Even air conditioning has limits Cranking up the AC increases the demand for energy from an already polluting electric grid. That can create a vicious cycle: The more AC you use, the worse the heat. The worse the heat, the more AC you need, and so on. Plus, a stressed grid can lead to power outages. “When the power is gone, even the best [air conditioning] system will not help,” Muammer Koç of Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar told Sara. The health implications for the region, which is already warming almost two times faster than the global average, are dire. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat builds up stress on the body that can make the effects of other illnesses much worse. If the body cannot cool itself, that can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Even a short stint outside in extreme heat can trigger a cascade of dangerous health issues for the elderly and people with preexisting conditions.   It's Wednesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net.   A message from Williams: Our commitment to sustainability is driven by our passion for doing things the right way. We reliably meet growing energy demands while keeping our employees, our environment and our infrastructure safe, and are developing lasting relationships with the communities where we live and work. We’re proud of our progress and will continue contributing to a cleaner environment, now and in the future. Learn more in our new Sustainability Report.   Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Garrett Downs digs into why climate activists are pushing back against a federal program that pays farmers to test out climate-friendly practices.   A message from Williams:   Power Centers President Joe Biden talks Tuesday with Ed Keable, superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, in Grand Canyon Village, Ariz. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo ‘Practically’ but not actually President Joe Biden, facing pressure from his left to declare a national climate emergency, said Tuesday that “practically speaking,” he already has, writes Robin Bravender. The president has not formally declared a national climate emergency, a move that could funnel additional federal investments into clean energy, halt new fossil fuel leases and prod manufacturers to increase supplies of zero-carbon energy technologies. Utilities aren’t so sure about Biden’s rule U.S. electric utilities told the Environmental Protection Agency that its proposal to shrink power plant carbon emissions shouldn’t be implemented yet because key technologies aren’t ready, offering the latest pushback to the Biden administration’s plan, write Peter Behr and Zach Bright. The Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, pointed to technical shortcomings with the potential use of clean hydrogen and carbon capture to slash greenhouse gases in the power sector. Where are all the firefighters? The number of European firefighters is declining, even as climate change is driving up the number of wildfires across the continent, writes Louise Guillot. The EU counted a total of 360,000 firefighters last year — 2,800 fewer than in 2021, according to new data released by EU statistics office Eurostat. In Other News ‘It’s apocalyptic’: People jump into the ocean to flee Maui wildfires as patients overwhelm Hawaii hospitals and 911 gets cut off. Inundation and Injustice: Flooding is presenting a formidable threat to the Great Lakes region.   HITTING YOUR INBOX AUGUST 14—CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. 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Don't miss out on the daily must-read for political aficionados and professionals with an outsized interest in California politics, policy and power. Subscribe today.       A message from Williams: At Williams, sustainability means a consistent commitment to authentic, safety-driven operations as we move one third of the nation’s natural gas. But it also means a continued focus on tomorrow as we invest in the next generation of emerging energy opportunities. Williams has a long legacy of doing things right every day. With the largest and most flexible natural gas transmission network in the U.S., Williams has reliably transported American-sourced natural gas for more than 100 years. We know that our operations play an important role in addressing a complex energy landscape, driven by the impacts of climate change and growing renewable energy generation — which is why our sustainability commitment is engrained in our work as we lead Williams and our industry into the future. 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