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Extreme heat - here to stay ?
The world is experiencing increasingly blistering temperatures. Human-caused global heating, and the current failure to meaningfully cut emissions are likely to result in more intense and frequent heat extremes.
We see the effects of global warming in the melting ice caps, burning forests, warming oceans and heat waves that kill thousands of people every year in countries around the world. In the Middle East, the heat has become so extreme that Qatar has started air conditioning its outdoor spaces. In addition, record-breaking heat waves in India and Pakistan have caused temperatures approaching 124 degrees Fahrenheit, and heat causes more deaths in the United States of America (USA) than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes.
Those most at risk are the very young and the elderly, but high temperatures also disproportionately affect those already ill, athletes, pregnant women, those who work outside and people with low incomes.
Heat can have devastating impacts on the body, including heat stress, heat stroke and links to chronic kidney disease. It exacerbates existing conditions such as heart and respiratory diseases. It can also lead to premature births, which can have a significant impact on the long-term health of the child.
Extreme heat is among the deadliest weather hazards society faces, and future heat extremes will affect daily life for the average resident more than any other facet of climate change.
We see the effects of global warming in the melting ice caps, burning forests, warming oceans and heat waves that kill thousands of people every year in countries around the world. In the Middle East, the heat has become so extreme that Qatar has started air conditioning its outdoor spaces. In addition, record-breaking heat waves in India and Pakistan have caused temperatures approaching 124 degrees Fahrenheit, and heat causes more deaths in the United States of America (USA) than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes.
Those most at risk are the very young and the elderly, but high temperatures also disproportionately affect those already ill, athletes, pregnant women, those who work outside and people with low incomes.
Heat can have devastating impacts on the body, including heat stress, heat stroke and links to chronic kidney disease. It exacerbates existing conditions such as heart and respiratory diseases. It can also lead to premature births, which can have a significant impact on the long-term health of the child.
Extreme heat is among the deadliest weather hazards society faces, and future heat extremes will affect daily life for the average resident more than any other facet of climate change.
Extreme heat is one of the first signals that we are witnessing of climate change and one of the consequences we can attempt to overcome very quickly.
The solutions are threefold: we need to cut emissions as quickly as possible to prevent further increases in extreme heat. We need to adapt to what is already happening. Finally we need to plant more trees.
Planting trees helps counteract deforestation, trees absorb pollution which is the main cause of climate change, and they produce shade lowering the temperatures around them.
The solutions are threefold: we need to cut emissions as quickly as possible to prevent further increases in extreme heat. We need to adapt to what is already happening. Finally we need to plant more trees.
Planting trees helps counteract deforestation, trees absorb pollution which is the main cause of climate change, and they produce shade lowering the temperatures around them.
