Climate-change life means 74-year-old retirees wake up hours earlier to beat the heat: ‘As soon as you walk outside, you’re already sweating’

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that U.S. adults are increasingly feeling a personal impact from extreme heat, with 8 in 10 Americans reporting that their electricity bills have been impacted by the heat over the past year. The survey found that more people, especially Democrats, are noticing the effects on travel and vacation plans, family outdoor activities, and even sleep patterns.

Elisa Bracamonte, a 74-year-old retired nurse from Tucson, Arizona, has noticed an increase in the heat impacting more of her daily life, getting up early to walk before it gets too hot. Climate scientists attribute this to the increasing frequency, intensity, and persistence of heat waves in many parts of the world, which has led to more frequent health impacts, strained public infrastructure, and higher electricity usage due to increased air conditioning.

Despite this, belief in climate change remains relatively stable, with about two-thirds of Americans still believing it is happening, even though there has been a slight decline from previous years.