This year, people worldwide experienced an average of 41 additional dangerously hot days due to human-caused climate change.Scientists from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central reported this sobering statistic, alongside findings that climate change intensified much of the year’s damaging weather phenomena.The analysis highlights the devastating role of climate change in shaping extreme weather events.2024 shattered numerous climate records, with Earth likely experiencing its hottest year on record.“The finding is devastating but utterly unsurprising: climate change did play a role, and often a major role, in most of the events we studied, making heat, droughts, tropical cyclones, and heavy rainfall more likely and more intense across the world, destroying lives and livelihoods of millions,” noted Friederike Otto, a climate scientist from Imperial College.In 2024, regions worldwide experienced the severe impacts of relentless heat waves:Northern California and Death Valley: These areas recorded extreme and unprecedented temperatures, testing the limits of human endurance and infrastructure.Southern Europe: Scorching heat in this region led to drastic measures, such as Greece temporarily closing the Acropolis, one of its most iconic historical landmarks, to protect tourists and workers from the dangerous conditions.West Africa: Children in this region were among the most vulnerable, facing severe health risks and life-threatening conditions due to the intense heat.South and Southeast Asia: Schools were forced to close in several countries to safeguard students from the extreme heat, demonstrating how climate conditions disrupted daily life and education.Adding to these challenges, the year featured a 13-month streak of high temperatures, which culminated in the hottest summer ever recorded. These events highlight the widespread and lasting impact of escalating global heat.The scientists conducted a detailed heat analysis, comparing 2024’s daily temperatures to a world without climate change. Some areas saw over 150 days of extreme heat this year, with the most vulnerable regions suffering disproportionately. “The poorest, least developed countries on the planet are the places that are experiencing even higher numbers,” said Kristina Dahl, vice president of climate science at Climate Central.What’s more, heat-related deaths often go unreported, which implies that the true human cost is even greater.“People don’t have to die in heat waves. But if we can’t communicate convincingly that actually a lot of people are dying, it’s much harder to raise this awareness,” noted Otto.This year highlighted how dangerously close the planet is to surpassing the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Clearly, there is an urgent need to address this heat and its impact on humanity and environments.Scientists believe Earth could temporarily cross this threshold soon. However, it
Ven. Gen 10th, 2025
