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Dangerous heatwaves are gripping cities across continents, raising concerns about the possibility of new record temperatures this summer. This is a consequence of climate change. Scientists warn that this is not just climate change, but also global warming, increasing extreme weather events, with heatwaves occurring more frequently and intensely, and temperatures rising to unprecedented levels.
2024 is predicted to be another record-breaking hot year, surpassing the heat record set in 2023. Large areas of the world have already experienced high temperatures before summer begins in the northern hemisphere. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Mediterranean nations have been hit by further extreme heat, sparking wildfires from Portugal to Greece and along the Algerian coast in North Africa.
Intense heatwaves are occurring in many countries, and climate change is becoming increasingly evident.
Areas in the Midwest and Northeast of the United States are also experiencing intense heat, forcing authorities to issue warnings about potential health hazards. A prolonged heatwave is scorching much of the US, with many areas recording record temperatures. In Asia, the intense heat has also prompted several countries to raise their temperature warnings.
In Serbia, experts predict temperatures will rise to around 40 degrees Celsius this week. The unusually hot weather, which has lasted for about a week, has also caused the deaths of three foreign tourists in Greece.
New York City has opened cooling-off shelters for its residents. On June 20th, the White House announced that President Joe Biden had declared a state of disaster due to wildfires in southern New Mexico, which have killed at least two people and destroyed approximately 500 homes.
Nearly two million Muslims from around the world are participating in this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, amidst scorching hot weather. The Hajj pilgrimage lasts for several days. Figures from countries with participating pilgrims indicate that more than a thousand people have died due to the heat.
Europe is facing a wave of tourist deaths and disappearances this year amid extreme heatwaves.
Europe is facing a wave of tourist deaths and disappearances this year amid extreme heat. A 55-year-old American tourist was found dead on the Greek island of Mathraki earlier this week. This is the third tourist death in a week.
A large area in the eastern United States is also experiencing a severe heatwave. New York City has opened emergency cooling centers at libraries, senior centers, and other facilities. Some suburban counties have sent students home early to avoid the heat. The meteorological agency has also issued a dangerously high temperature warning for parts of Arizona, with temperatures forecast to reach approximately 46 degrees Celsius.
High temperatures are the leading cause of climate-related deaths. Extreme heat has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in the past 12 months, but the actual number could be in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. High temperatures are the most deadly extreme weather event, yet they are often underestimated, especially for children, the elderly, and those who work outdoors.
The primary cause of global warming is the unprecedented level of greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the average annual emissions between 2013 and 2022 were 53 billion tons of CO2 and other equivalent gases, mainly from the use of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. In 2022 alone, emissions reached 55 billion tons. By early 2024, this figure had decreased to approximately 200 billion tons.
According to experts, if emissions remain at current levels, global warming will also remain at the same rate. Without significant changes in emissions reductions, the 1.5°C temperature threshold will be surpassed and become the "long-term average" within the next decade.
The main cause of global warming is greenhouse gas emissions, which are at their highest levels ever.
