Phoenix residents reject city getting dubbed 'uninhabitable' due of brutal heat

21 July 2023 , 21:45

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A billboard displays a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit during a record heat wave in Phoenix, Arizona (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

With temperatures in Phoenix hitting insane records, British climate scientist Laura Tobin is getting some extreme backlash from locals after saying the city is 'uninhabitable' without air conditioning.

Tobin has become the target of angry Arizonians who disagree with the Brit. Along with them, plenty of climate change deniers have come out of the woodwork to dunk on the climate expert.

Phoenix regularly experiences temperatures of 38 - 40 Celsius (101-104), but thanks to the phenomenon of La Niña, the temperatures have broken records for 19 straight days.

Currently, it’s 110-118 in Phoenix.

But not everyone thinks that’s a bad thing. Or even strange. “Phoenix has always been hot,” said Michelle Litwin, the city’s heat response program manager.

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Climate change deniers have started the hashtag #Climatescam and spammed it with a cross of over-enthused right-wingers and spam bots, as is common since Musk’s takeover.

Phoenix residents reject city getting dubbed 'uninhabitable' due of brutal heat

It's an average of 118 degrees Fahrenheit this week in Phoenix, and residents are arguing whether or not the city is 'habitable' without AC (AFP via Getty Images)

One denier, or a possible bot, called Emma, tweeted: “You know who needs investigating … who funds -#LauraTobin .. she is highly dangerous as she is influencing the IQ challenged on the #Climatescam."

Another account, full of pseudo-science blaming the sun for global warming, also added: “The distance of where you are from the Sun is constantly changing because the Earth's orbit around the Sun is VERY irregular. Start by learning the three Milankovitch Cycles, then look into Solar Inertial Motion. None of this has anything to do with humans.”

A third user calling themselves Arnold also retweeted the story and responded that “They are too stupid to be terrorists. The terrorists are the elite pushing this crap. The Educator's are the enablers. These Nobodies doing the spraying are part of this are just indoctrinated and have got to many suds on the brain."

Cities around Arizona had to create cooling centers and a heat response program years ago in order to deal with record-breaking summer temperatures (AP)

While some residents apparently think nothing of the sudden spike in temps, plenty of other individuals and businesses are focused on safety. In Phoenix, the Arizona Animal Welfare League decided to close its doors for the weekend.

“The safety of our pets is our top priority, and with temperatures expected to hit over 115, our staff’s main focus will be on keeping our animals cool and comfortable during this time,” a Facebook post from the organization reads.

“I’m prepared,” said Tonyea Warren, 29, who has lived in Phoenix her entire life. “But it’s different. I ain’t ever felt this heat. This is a different type of heat.” Warren drives an uber, which is a difficult job in this state anyway. But this week, she could only handle two hours in the car at a time.

City of Phoenix Heat Response Program team volunteer Natalie Boyd wheels a bucket of ice and a cooler of water for members of the public in need (AP)

Axios reports that there have been 18 deaths in Arizona due to extreme heat so far in 2023 - which is less than last year. At the same time, four of the individuals who died were at home with no air conditioning, which is deadly in Arizona. Six others died from heat exposure because they were unhoused, which also means they could not access air conditioning.

A landscaper told the Guardian, “You have to keep yourself moving. If you stand in one place it is going to be too hot.” He also has learned not to drink too much water too fast. “You have to drink water but if you drink too much, sometimes you throw up," said Crispin Allejah.

Gabe Castle, an Amazon delivery driver who has to work in a vehicle with no AC, concludes: “You never really get acclimated to the sweltering heat. But you get to the point where it’s easier to combat it.”