Recent findings by Climate Central, a nonprofit news organization, have highlighted the alarming impact of climate change on global temperatures.
In July, an astounding 81% of the world’s population, or approximately 6.5 billion people, experienced abnormally hot temperatures due to climate change.
This startling figure was determined using the Climate Shift Index, which compares the current climate to one without excess heat-trapping emissions.
The report indicates that July may have been the hottest month ever recorded on the planet, pending official verification from federal meteorological agencies.
On July 10, a peak was reached when 3.5 billion people experienced a Climate Shift Index level of 3 or higher, indicating that climate change has made unusually hot temperatures at least three times more likely.
Andrew Pershing, Vice President of Science at Climate Central, emphasized that the situation is far from normal and warns that without reducing CO2 emissions, temperatures will continue to rise.
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The study builds on research from the World Weather Attribution, which found that intense heatwaves in the southwestern U.S., Europe, and China in July would not have been possible without climate change.
For instance, global warming caused by burning fossil fuels contributed to a 4.5-degree increase in the European heatwave, 3.6-degree increase in the U.S. and Mexico, and 1.8-degree increase in China.
The impact of climate change is especially severe in regions like the tropics, north and central Africa, the Mediterranean basin, south and southeast Asia, and the southern United States. These areas experienced particularly high Climate Shift Index levels of 4 and 5, making hot conditions four to five times more likely due to climate change.
The consequences of such extreme heat are concerning. Heatwaves kill more people annually than any other extreme weather event, with an estimated average of 700 heat-related deaths in the U.S. alone. Emergency rooms see a surge of people seeking medical attention for heat stress and other related issues during heatwaves.
The situation calls for urgent action to address climate change and its impacts. Balbus from the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity warns that the current heat levels are likely to worsen without strong efforts to reduce the severity of climate change.
While El Niño may also contribute to increased global temperatures, it is essential to recognize that climate change intensifies and amplifies these normal weather patterns. The combination of warming due to climate change and natural weather patterns leads to “extra-warmer” conditions, pushing temperatures to new extremes.
In conclusion, the findings are a sobering reminder of the urgent need for collective action to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities from the devastating impacts of extreme heat.
