Local elected officials, public health and climate advocates talked about the benefits of electric vehicle provisions, tax credits and health benefits in Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2024. From left to right: Arizona State Director of Climate Cabinet Nick Arnold, political and policy director of Rural Arizona Engagement Antonio Ramirez, chair and co-founder of Arizona Health Physicians for Climate Action Dr. Brian Drummond and Tucson councilmember Kevin Dahl. In a statement from the Mayor of Tucson Regina Romero, the city has received $40 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to expand its EV fleet and infrastructure.
Tucson City Councilmember Kevin Dahl and public health and climate advocates, want locals to contact their congressional delegation to support the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The IRA has incentivized electric vehicle purchases and infrastructure through tax credits– however clean energy investments are now under review under the Trump Administration.
The City of Tucson has received about $40 million of IRA money to expand its EV infrastructure and add 10 more battery-electric buses to its fleet.
Currently, the city operates 70 light-duty EVs and 10 battery-electric buses.
Later this month, it will roll out its first electric garbage truck as part of a pilot program.
“We have to get a handle on human-caused climate change factors and that’s fossil fuels, and changing it into clean energy like solar, wind– electricity to power our need to get from here to there,” Dahl said.
Dr. Brian Drummond, an emergency physician and co-founder and chair of Arizona Health Professionals for Climate Action, agrees.
He says that climate change is driving more illnesses, putting additional strain on healthcare systems.
“We’re seeing lots of effects of climate change and then those lead to respiratory, cardiovascular, we’re seeing neuro-cognitive changes, whether it’s developmental from a young age or early dementia rates in patients,” Drummond said.
In Arizona, heat-related illness is common.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there were 4,298 heat-related illness emergency room visits in 2023.
Low-income communities of color, along with younger and older populations and those with pre-existing health conditions, are disproportionately affected by the health impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
“They have the least resiliency to be able to deal with climate change and make changes or adaptability,” Drummond said. “They’re the ones who are going to be hurt the most.”
He points to the transportation sector as one of the top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
“Because we consume fossil fuels, both in gasoline, diesel, petroleum products and so through that consumption, that’s leading to worsening effects of climate change,” Drummond said.
High-ozone days, worsened by fossil fuel consumption and extreme heat, can also trigger inflammatory responses in people.
One way to reduce these effects, Drummond says, is by shifting to more sustainable transportation options like EVs or bikes.
However, climate change and these solutions remain highly politicized.
“We all want clean air, clean water, not extreme weather because that hurts people. And so if we agree on that, I think we can depoliticize and move forward and know that this is more of a sustainable pathway,” Drummond said.
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