Diane Rehm: On My Mind

How Hot Is Too Hot? Lessons from a Record-breaking Summer

08.31.2023 - By WAMU 88.5Play

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This July was the hottest month in recorded history. The warmest eight years on the planet have all occurred since 2015.

“The rate of warming is fast,” says journalist Jeff Goodell. He has been writing about climate change for more than 20 years, and last month, released a new book titled, “The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet.”

In it, he explores the impact rising temperatures will have on our environment, our lives and our bodies. “Our understanding and awareness of the dangers of heat are just beginning,” he says.  He adds that this summer’s extreme weather events from wildfires to tropical storms to heat domes, gave us a glimpse into just what those dangers are – and how we can better prepare to face them.

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