America, Stop Moving West
On June 17th, 2021, it was 118°F in Phoenix, Arizona — a temperature best described as “scorched earth” or “smote down from God” hot.
Phoenix’s record-breaking temperature comes hot off a trail of six, 110°F and higher days — a reality almost as disturbing as the fact that Phoenix is one of our nation’s fastest-growing cities.
Miami, Phoenix, La s Vegas, and to a lesser degree Austin and Salt Lake City, have one big thing in common: From a human survival standpoint, they’re terrible bets.
Drought and heat are largely perceived as ephemeral future inconveniences rather than everyday realities. Few Americans go thirsty or hungry compared to other arid regions around the world.
By the time I am in my 50s, these places will all be hotter, have more frequent droughts, more strained resources, higher crime rates, and lower economic output.
In the upcoming decades, the chances of an extreme heatwave in Phoenix will become increasingly likely. In such an event, water, transportation, and energy infrastructure would crumble, creating the “Hurricane Katrina of Heat.”
