As wildfires rage in the West, water supplies decline across the region, extreme temperatures bake Arizona and heat-related deaths rise in Phoenix, experts brought together by The Arizona Republic and azcentral to discuss climate change agreed that action needs to be taken.

Jennifer Vanos, assistant professor and sustainability expert at Arizona State University, said climate change-related deaths caused by issues such as extreme heat exposure are “completely avoidable” if the right steps are taken.

Joining Vanos on the panel were Bruce Babbitt, former governor of Arizona and former U.S. secretary of the Interior; Karletta Chief, associate professor and environmental researcher at the University of Arizona; and Emma Robbins, director of the Navajo Water Project.

The conversation, hosted by senior environmental reporter Ian James, touched on a range of topics including extreme heat exposure, water availability and management, vulnerable populations and youth activism.

Babbitt, who helped Arizona pass its landmark groundwater management act in 1980, said lawmakers need to address water issues again in the face of changing climate. Outside the urban areas of Phoenix and Tucson, there is virtually no water management, he said, even as drought deepens across the West.

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Robbins, whose group works to bring water to tribal communities, said the lack of water among indigenous people will only grow more dire as climate change further dries the landscape. She said the government should honor its commitments to tribes and agree to expand supplies.

Vanos said rising temperatures are worsening the effects of heat in Arizona’s cities, where roads and buildings have created an “urban heat island,” soaking up the sunlight during the day and releasing it slowly at night. She said no one should die from the heat, but cities must act to protect vulnerable residents from the effects of rising temperatures.

Chief talked about the importance of making climate change an issue that’s important to individuals. Families should talk about how the landscape is changing and what they can do to adapt and to help improve conditions. She said people owe it to future generations to protect resources now.

The discussion follows the release of a new poll that shows the vast majority of people in Arizona are concerned about climate change and believe that both the state and federal governments need to do more to address it.

A recording of the panel discussion will be available at environment.azcentral.com.

POLL SHOWS FEARS: Most in AZ want government to address climate change

Anton L. Delgado is an environmental reporter for The Arizona Republic/AZCentral. Follow his reporting on Twitter at @antonldelgado and tell him about stories at [email protected].

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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