Climate change exposed 2 billion to more than 30 days of “risky heat” in last three months

Sep 22, 2024 - 18:07
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Climate change exposed 2 billion to more than 30 days of “risky heat” in last three months

 By Adu Gyamfi Odopa

(Odopa2@gmail.com)

One in four people on the planet experienced at least 30 days of health - threatening temperatures very strongly influenced by climate change between June and August, according to a new report by Climate Central (Sept 18).

“Risky heat” days reach temperature thresholds at which heat - related risks to human health increase statistically. Climate change increased the likelihood of these days for billions worldwide.

 Report's Key Findings

At the peak of the global heat, on August 13, more than 4 billion people faced unusually high temperatures made at least three times more likely by climate change. 72 countries experienced their hottest June - August period ever since at least 1970.

 180 cities in the Northern Hemisphere experienced at least one extreme heat wave of five days or longer.

 Extreme heat waves of five or more days are now about 21 times more likely because of human - caused climate change. On average, climate change added 17 days of “risky heat” around the world.

 The new analysis conducted by researchers at Climate Central used the Climate Shift Index, a metric that quantifies the influence of climate change on global temperatures.

To estimate the risks of heat to human health, researchers looked at days in which temperatures were much hotter than the historical record — the “risky heat” days.

 The analysis also details exposure to climate change - influenced heat at the city level, with detailed information for more than 1,200 cities.

 During this record - breaking season in human history, few urban areas escaped the impacts of carbon pollution, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.

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