41 Extra Days of Extreme Heat: Climate Change Intensifies Global Risks

41 Extra Days of Extreme Heat: Climate Change Intensifies Global Risks

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே சொடுக்கவும்)

Extreme Heat and Climate Change in 2024:

• Climate change boosted extreme heat globally in 2024, the hottest year on record.
• 41 additional days of dangerous heat were added to the global average due to human-made climate change.

2024 - A Record-Breaking Year:

• The first six months of 2024 saw record-breaking temperatures, continuing a streak from 2023 to 13 months.
• July 22 marked the hottest day in history, setting a new global temperature record.
• The analysis by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central highlights the worsening climate impacts, with the heatwaves, droughts, cyclones, and floods causing significant damage and loss of life.
• The report emphasizes that if global warming reaches 2°C, it could lead to more frequent extreme events such as floods and heavy rainfall, particularly in vulnerable regions.

Dangerous Heat Days:

• Dangerous heat days are defined as those with temperatures exceeding the warmest 10% of temperatures from 1991-2020.
• These days are linked to a heightened risk to human health, associated with the local minimum mortality temperature.
• On July 21, 5.3 million people experienced heat made at least twice as likely due to climate change.

Worsening Heat in Developing Regions:

• Least developed countries are facing even higher numbers of dangerous heat days.
• Heat-related deaths often remain underreported, making it harder to raise awareness and take preventive measures.

The Paris Agreement and Global Warming:

• 2024's extreme heat is a warning sign, as Earth nears the 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
• While not officially breached yet, global warming is nearing a point where sustained impacts could be irreversible.

Impact on Small Island Developing States (SIDS):

• SIDS, particularly near the equator, experienced over 130 additional dangerous heat days.
• Despite contributing only 0.02% of global emissions, the SIDS are increasingly vulnerable to climate hazards like sea level rise, intense cyclones, heatwaves, and droughts.
• Gardi Sugdub, an island in Panama, faces migration due to rising sea levels and intensified storms, threatening the community and its culture.

Global Impacts:

• 219 extreme weather events were identified globally in 2024, resulting in at least 3,700 deaths and the displacement of millions.

Extreme Weather Events linked to Climate Change in 2024:

Heatwaves:

• In regions like Italy, extreme heat has intensified, leading to deaths, displacement, and agricultural losses.

Wildfires:

• Pantanal wetlands, Amazon basin, Canada, and the western US experienced large wildfires in 2024, exacerbated by exceptional drought conditions.

Storms and Hurricanes:

• Hurricane Helene in the US and Typhoon Gaemi in Southeast Asia were fuelled by warmer seas and caused significant loss of life and damage.
• These storms led to 300+ fatalities and nearly US$60 billion in damages.

Floods:

• Record-breaking downpours and deadly floods affected countries such as Brazil, Spain, Central Europe, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Tanzania.
• The floods in regions like Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, and Chad were among the deadliest, with over 2,000 fatalities.

Global Warming and the 1.5°C Threshold:

• 2024 became the hottest year on record, surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• The breach of this threshold is a warning, although it doesn't signal a permanent exceedance, it suggests that humanity is approaching dangerous levels of warming more quickly than expected.

Case Studies of Extreme Events

• Flooding in Africa: Floods in countries such as Sudan, Nigeria, and Cameroon were among the deadliest events, claiming over 2,000 lives and displacing millions.
• These events could become more frequent if global warming reaches the 2°C threshold.
• Hurricane Helene in the United States: Hurricane Helene, which struck six U.S. states, was intensified by rising sea temperatures, making it 200 to 500 times more likely.
• The storm caused 230 deaths, becoming the second-deadliest mainland U.S. hurricane after Katrina in 2005.
• Amazon Drought: A historic drought in the Amazon, exacerbated by global warming, threatened the forest's ability to act as a carbon sink and undermined its biodiversity.

Key Impacts and Events:

• Record-breaking temperatures in Northern California, Death Valley, Mexico, and Central America.
• Vulnerable regions, including West Africa and Southern Europe, endured extreme heat, with places like Greece closing the Acropolis due to high temperatures.
• School closures in South and Southeast Asia were triggered by the extreme heat.

Climate Risks and Impacts:

• The report stresses that climate change intensified 26 out of 29 extreme weather events studied, which killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions.
• Climate change had a stronger influence than El Nino on many extreme weather events.

The Impact on Health

• Dangerous Heat Waves: The 41 additional days of dangerous heat exposed millions to heightened health risks, with scientists warning that the frequency of such extreme heat events will increase without urgent action to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Urgent Call for Action

• Faster Transition to Renewable Energy: The report highlights the critical need for a faster transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources.

• Improved Early-Warning Systems: Enhanced early-warning systems are necessary to protect vulnerable populations from extreme weather.
• Real-Time Reporting of Heat Deaths: More effective reporting of heat-related fatalities is essential to assess the full impact of heatwaves.
• Financial Support for Developing Nations: Rich countries must fulfil their climate finance promises to help developing nations adapt to climate change.

The Current State of Global Emissions

• Global Warming Could Reach 3°C by 2100: According to the latest UN data, current policies will likely lead to a global temperature rise of around 3°C by the end of the century.
• Inadequate Emission Reductions: Even if all Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are fully implemented, global emissions will only reduce by 5.9% by 2030, far from the 43% reduction needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.

The Role of Fossil Fuels

• Fossil Fuels as Major Contributors: Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions, making them the primary driver of climate change.

• Challenges in Transitioning Away: The transition to clean energy is particularly difficult for poorer countries in the Global South due to reliance on fossil fuels for jobs and cheap energy, as well as limited resources, technology, and infrastructure.

Key Resolutions for 2025:

• Rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
• Improved early warning systems and real-time reporting of heat deaths.
• International financial support for developing countries to increase resilience to climate impacts.

Looking Ahead:

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the urgency to reduce global emissions by 43% by 2030 and 57% by 2035 to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
• However, current policies are on track to push global temperatures to around 3°C by 2100, with fossil fuels remaining the largest contributor to greenhouse gases.

Conclusion: The Need for Swift Global Action

• The report highlights that without urgent action to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy, the world will continue to face devastating impacts of climate change.
• Global cooperation is crucial to avoid the worst outcomes and protect future generations.

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