Kate Gallego, Phoenix Mayor addresses the press on July 20,2026 at an Elected Officials to Protect America/ Climate Action Campaign press conference at the State Capitol about the need for the federal government to step up and help communities deal with the impacts of extreme heat and the climate crisis. Behind her the other speakers, from left to right, were: Lauren Kuby, State Senator (LD-8), Channel Powe, former School Board Member, Balsz School District, Assistant Minority Leader, State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (LD-18), Aaron Márquez, Arizona State Representative (LD-5), Major U.S Army Reserve, Forever Wars Veteran, Co-founder VetsForward and Ricardo Reyes, Executive Director VetsForward, USMC Veteran.
What Phoenix is doing to protect people from extreme heat and the climate crisis stands in stark contrast to federal policies
PHOENIX, AZ – From the mega drought to heatwaves, dust storms, wildfires, and torrential rains Arizona communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Right now, the state is deep within another summer of extreme heat, the leading cause of weather-related deaths. Wisely acting to protect citizens, local governments have invested resources for their communities with cooling centers, heat mitigation programs, and emergency response efforts to mitigate the danger. However, local governments are constrained by how much they can invest. That’s why the federal government needs to step up.
Today, at a press conference at the AZ State Capitol, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) and the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) were proud to highlight how Phoenix is at the forefront of efforts to protect citizens from the dangers of extreme heat.
“No city, no community, does more to mitigate extreme heat as a public health threat than Phoenix. Even one death is too many, but the hard work and dedication of our City staff and community partners are making a difference and saving lives,” said Kate Gallego, Phoenix Mayor. “Things would improve more if the federal government could provide the funding, facilities, and services necessary to save more lives.”
The measures that Mayor Kate Gallego and her team have implemented, including cooling centers, heat mitigation programs, and emergency response efforts, continue to save lives. Phoenix has become a model for other communities across the southwest. Additionally, other elected officials from the area spoke about what they are doing to protect people by combating the climate crisis, while measures in Washington D.C. hinder progress.
What lawmakers are doing in Arizona stands in stark contrast to what is happening at the federal level. The federal government’s policies have forced families to struggle with rising utility bills, fluctuating high gas prices and worsening air quality. Without federal clean energy and infrastructure investments that the Trump administration cut, Arizona will not be able to meet its clean energy goals, hurting families, and businesses more.
“Arizona is on the frontlines of deadly climate impacts. Extreme heat kills more people every year than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. At Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) we’re proud and grateful for Mayor Gallego’s programs that continue to save lives in Phoenix. It’s an honor to be in the city that is showing the way forward, and to recognize the work that other elected officials are doing to protect the people of Arizona, despite current federal policies,” said Christian Brock, Elected Officials to Protect America Senior Advisor, Air Force Veteran. “As fossil fuel-based energy continues to fuel the warming of the planet, extreme weather events are becoming frequent and fierce. The solutions to protecting our families from extreme heat and achieving energy security depend on the deployment of more renewable energy, continued energy efficiencies and resilience measures. The federal government could provide the funding, facilities, and services necessary to save more lives during extreme weather events. But actions by the current Trump administration have hindered climate crisis mitigation progress, putting people and their communities at higher risk.”
People need the security of knowing the federal government has their backs, especially in times of uncertainty due to climate crisis weather extremes. At the very moment Arizona residents need stronger protections, the Trump administration is pursuing policies that would move the country in the opposite direction. The administration is advancing a repeal of Environment Protection Agency (EPA) limits on climate pollution from power plants—one of the nation’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions—while simultaneously proposing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal support for coal facilities and coal export infrastructure.
Extended exposure to high temperatures increases the risk of developing illnesses, such as heat stroke, and exacerbates other existing ailments, such as heart disease or diabetes. The situation is worse in low-income areas and communities of color for they are disproportionately more likely to experience extreme heat, and their residents are less able to afford to protect themselves.
“While Arizona elected officials are stepping up to help mitigate the climate crisis, the federal government is impeding on our efforts. Working families and frontline environmental justice communities bear the brunt of federal decisions that turn back progress. Without clean energy investments, climate resilience measures and critical environmental protections, the fossil fuel industries continue to wreak havoc on disenfranchised communities facing zero or accountability. It’s criminal,” said Channel Powe, former School Board Member, Balsz School District, environmental justice advocate. “When clean-energy funding stops, it’s not abstract — it means more children showing up to school with asthma, more elders struggling to survive, living day-to-day in triple-digit extreme heat, and more families forced to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table that they’re already struggling with. These are real lives, real health issues, and real economic pressures that’s decreasing life expectancy.
The administration’s policies have already prioritized oil and gas extraction for energy security, and have cut clean energy investments that would have brought true energy security.
“As an Army Veteran and State Representative we take an oath to the U.S. Constitution to serve and protect from threats foreign and domestic. The warming of the planet, because of greenhouse gas, results in direct threats to global security with mass migrations, and conflicts over scarce resources. The military knows the climate crisis is a threat multiplier,” said Aaron Márquez, Arizona State Representative (LD-5), Major U.S Army Reserve Veteran. “Extreme heat kills more people every year than floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. Arizonans have the right to a safe climate, to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and to be protected from the dangers of extreme weather. Arizona families need investments that protect people, not policies that reward polluters placing us all in danger.”
Clean energy is energy security.
“I wore the uniform to defend this country from threats abroad. Today, one of the greatest threats to our security is the climate crisis unfolding here at home. Every wildfire, every record-breaking heat wave, every drought reminds us that resilience isn’t optional. Investing in clean energy means protecting our communities, strengthening our national security, and honoring our duty to future generations,” said Ricardo Reyes, Executive Director VetsForward, USMC Veteran.
Climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is causing more intense and longer-lasting heat waves that cover larger areas, according to scientists.
“Arizona’s ability to protect our communities from extreme heat and air pollution will continue to erode without immediate legislative action. Despite repeated legislative roadblocks, we will continue advancing practical, systemic solutions that address the unique climate challenges facing our state,” said Lauren Kuby, State Senator (LD-8). “As Arizona faces longer, hotter summers, protecting clean air, clean water, and healthy ecosystems is essential to protecting public health. That is why I will continue introducing the Green Amendment — to enshrine every Arizonan’s right to a clean and healthy environment in our State Constitution. Clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment are not privileges reserved for a select few — they are fundamental rights that belong to all of us. This is what democratic governance looks like: showing up, offering solutions, and fighting for the people we serve.”
Public weather services and local health departments warn that heat is now the deadliest weather risk in Arizona, and that fact has both physical and mental health implications. Children with existing mental health conditions are at higher risk of experiencing increased symptoms during heatwaves.
“School is meant to be a safe haven where our children can thrive. As an educator, I know students need exercise and time outside. It’s bad mentally and physically to be stuck at a desk all day, but excessive heat limits physical activities. This significantly impacts students’ mental health by triggering stress responses, worsening anxiety and mood swings. Problem-solving becomes a challenge and test scores diminish with impaired cognitive functions,” said Assistant Minority Leader, State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (LD-18). “Our children should not have to deal with this added stress, nor should their parents. When federal clean-energy investments and resilience protections are pulled back, it’s Arizona families who pay the price. The stress, polluted air, higher utility bills, and fewer outside local jobs are the result. On the other hand, clean energy investments save families money, bring cleaner air and can help mitigate weather extremes. We must do everything in our power to protect people from climate crisis dangers. Every dollar stripped away from clean-energy programs is a dollar stolen from the prosperity, health and security of families.”
Communities need federal investments in resilience, public health, and clean energy — not federal handouts for some of the nation’s biggest polluters that are largely responsible for the warming of the planet.
