Washington, DC - The average temperature for cities across Idaho showed a dramatic increase last summer, according to a new report released Tuesday by United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG).

U.S. PIRG said this warmer-than-normal weather is indicative of what Idaho can expect with continued global warming.

"Throw out the record books, because global warming is raising temperatures in Idaho and across the country," said U.S. PIRG spokesperson Erin Wetherley. "The long-term forecast is for more of the same unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from power plants and passenger vehicles."

According to the National Climatic Data Center, the 2006 summer and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007, a year already marked by destructive wildfires throughout the west, is on track to be the second warmest year on record globally.

To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, U.S. PIRG compared temperature data for the years 2000-2006 from 255 weather stations located in all 50 states and Washington, DC with temperatures averaged over the 30 years spanning 1971-2000, or what scientists call the "normal" temperature.

PIRG said key findings for Idaho include:

- During 2006, Lewiston experienced average maximum temperatures of 3.0°F above normal. The summer heat wave caused average maximum temperatures to reach 4.2°F above normal. The city experienced 56 days where the temperature hit at least 90°F-- a full 16 days more than the historical average.

- In the summer of 2006, Boise experienced a tremendous heat wave, with the average temperature in the city reaching 3.8°F above normal. Average maximum temperatures in the city-- the highest temperatures recorded on a given day-- were 4.5°F above normal, while average minimum temperatures-- temperatures usually recorded at night-- were 2.5°F above normal.

- Above-average temperatures in 2006 are part of a broader warming trend in Idaho cities since 2000. Between 2000 and 2006, the average temperature was 1.5°F above the 30-year average in Boise. In Lewiston, the average temperature during this seven year period was at least 1.3°F above normal. In Pocatello, the average temperature from 2000-2006 was at least .5°F above normal.

In April 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that North America could experience significant water stress, forest fires, and "an increased number, intensity, and duration of heat waves" as temperatures continue to rise.

PIRG said Concern about global warming and a desire for action is a concern for myriad groups. "It is the responsibility of every Christian to not only care about God's creation, but take active responsibility in doing something about it," said Tri Robinson, senior pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Boise. "The global environmental condition is in rapid decline. As a result, humanity is suffering and the first to feel it are the poor, especially in the developing nations. Caring for creation has a global impact not only in the state of Idaho but around the world."

Robinson, author of Saving God's Green Earth: Rediscovering the Church's Responsibility to Environmental Stewardship, emphasized that solving the problem of global warming requires collective action. "We can make a difference if we embrace this biblical mandate, unify and together express the love of God in practical ways by taking action against the injustices and practices that are hurting the very people we were called to serve."

"This document published by U.S. PIRG does an excellent job in summarizing recent increases in temperature trends in cities throughout the United States," said Dr. Dale Stephenson, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at Boise State University and a member of the Boise Climate Protection Program Advisory Committee. "These findings provide further verification that human-caused climate change is real and highlight the need for the US to take immediate legislative action to reduce our country's greenhouse gas emissions."

"Scientists are sounding alarm bells about the impacts of continued global warming," stated Wetherley. "The good news is that those same scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by taking bold action now to reduce global warming pollution," continued Wetherley.

To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, PIRG said the United States must halt increases in global warming emissions now, cut emissions by at least 15-20% by 2020, and slash emissions by at least 80% by 2050.

PIRG said the United States could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars more efficient and generate more electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.

"We have the technology at our fingertips to cut global warming pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure energy future," said Wetherley.

Wetherly says Congress is poised to consider global warming legislation this fall. She says the Safe Climate Act in the U.S. House and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the U.S. Senate are the only bills that would reduce pollution to levels that scientists say are needed to prevent the worst effects of global warming.

"The heat is on Congress to take decisive action to curb global warming," stated Wetherley. "Idaho's congressional delegation should support the only bills that do what scientists say we need to do. These are the Safe Climate Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the U.S. Senate," concluded Wetherley. "Idaho cannot afford to settle for less."