GreenLatinos and Climate Action Campaign convene virtual press conference highlighting the growing impacts of extreme heat on Arizona workers and families
PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 7/30/26
CONTACTO PARA LOS MEDIOS: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Director, 602-832-6039, [email protected]
PHOENIX, AZ — GreenLatinos and the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) brought together community leaders, elected officials, scientists, and advocates today for a virtual press conference calling for stronger protections for outdoor workers and increased investments to help Arizona families cope with rising temperatures and energy costs.
The discussion focused on how climate change is intensifying extreme heat across Arizona, placing Latino outdoor workers at disproportionate risk while increasing the financial burden on families struggling with rising electricity bills.
Latinos make up 52 percent of Arizona's construction workforce and are among those most exposed to dangerous temperatures while working in construction, agriculture, landscaping, and other outdoor industries. According to the Maricopa County Heat Surveillance Dashboard, as of July 23, 2026, 32 percent of heat-related deaths this year were Latino, 40 percent of those deaths were among adults between the ages of 35 and 49, and 80 percent were men. These numbers highlight the disproportionate toll extreme heat is taking on working-age Latino communities across Arizona.
"Many Latino workers spend long hours outdoors helping build and sustain our communities, only to return home to neighborhoods that remain dangerously hot and utility bills that continue to rise. We have the tools to better protect workers and families. What we need now is the political will to act," said Meisei Gonzalez, Senior Climate Justice & Clean Air Advocate at GreenLatinos
Phoenix City Council Member Anna Hernandez highlighted how extreme heat is worsening existing inequities in Phoenix, particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods. She called for stronger worker protections, more cooling infrastructure, enforcement for employers that fail to protect workers, and investments that help residents cope with rising energy costs.
"Last year, we saw 430 heat-related deaths recorded in Maricopa County, and this year we are on pace to unfortunately surpass that number. The latest data shows we've already had 18 confirmed heat-related deaths, with another 215 cases under investigation... We need enforcement for employers who fail to protect their workers. We need more shade, more cooling stations, and stronger protections so residents can stay safe.", said Phoenix City Council Member Anna Hernandez, who represents District 7.
Arizona community member Jocelyn Anaya shared how extreme heat affects her own family, describing how her father suffered symptoms of heat illness while working construction on a large data center project. She emphasized that Latino workers face dangerous working conditions while also struggling with unaffordable energy bills at home.
"Latinos make up 52 percent of our state's construction workforce, yet they account for 32 percent of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County. County data also shows that 40 percent of those deaths were among people ages 35 to 49, and 80 percent were men. These numbers are people. They're the people building our homes, our roads, our schools, and our businesses," said Jocelyn Anaya, South Phoenix Community Member
Jazmin Moreno Dominguez of Agave Community Threads discussed Arizona's lack of an enforceable statewide heat standard despite having some of the deadliest weather in the country. Drawing from more than 100 worker testimonies collected across Arizona, she urged state leaders to adopt mandatory protections that guarantee workers access to water, rest, and shade.
"Climate change is testing every institution we have. The question isn't whether Arizona will continue to experience extreme heat. We're already here. The question is whether we'll respond with compassion or complacency, whether we'll settle for recommendations or fight for rights," said Jazmin Moreno Dominguez, Organizing Manager at Agave Community Threads
Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto of the Union of Concerned Scientists presented research on the disproportionate impacts of extreme heat on Latino communities and emphasized that climate projections point toward longer, more frequent, and more intense heat events without continued action to reduce climate pollution and strengthen community resilience. Climate change is driving dangerous, deadly heat in Arizona: 2024 was the hottest year on record in Phoenix, followed by 2025 as the second hottest, and Phoenix recently experienced its warmest March ever recorded. Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent, longer lasting, and more severe, putting additional pressure on workers and their families.
"In 2023, Phoenix experienced 31 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees, contributing to a record 645 heat-related deaths. We know that Latinos live in some of Phoenix's hottest neighborhoods, and climate projections point toward longer, more frequent, and more intense heat events. We need action now to reduce climate pollution and protect our communities," said Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto, Senior Social Scientist for Climate Vulnerability at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
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Acerca de GreenLatinos – GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) convoca a una comunidad activa de líderes ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, arraigada en el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unida para impulsar nuestras prioridades y motivada a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.
GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, y motivados para asegurar nuestras políticas, Liberación económica, cultural y ambiental.
GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsadas a asegurar nuestra Liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.
