When the temperature spikes in Los Angeles — usually around Labor Day — thousands of renters swelter in homes with little relief. Mostly, they wait for it to end. But climate change driven by burning fossil fuels is prolonging the extreme heat.
The number of days from September to November hotter than a temperature baseline have trended upward since 1970, resulting in nine additional days above normal temperatures, according to data compiled by Climate Central. And it’s not being experienced equally. Figures collected by UCLA show more emergency room visits on hot days in zip codes in the asphalt-covered, lower-income communities in South and Central L.A.
