00:00When Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana in August 2021,
00:04over a million people lost power amid a heat wave,
00:07leading to nine heat-related deaths in New Orleans.
00:10This highlights our heavy reliance on air conditioning,
00:13which despite being essential against extreme heat,
00:16exacerbates climate change.
00:18Demand for air conditioning is set to triple by 2050,
00:21but power outages during heat waves are increasing,
00:24straining the outdated electrical grid.
00:27Weather-related incidents caused 80% of major power outages
00:31in the U.S. between 2000 and 2023, reports CNN.
00:36The site notes, to mitigate these risks,
00:38we need to improve grid resilience,
00:40diversify energy sources, and make homes more efficient.
00:44Urban planning with more green spaces can also help reduce heat.
00:48Addressing these issues is crucial
00:50as climate change continues to fuel extreme weather.
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