A recent study conducted by the World Weather Attribution group of scientists found that the scorching heat experienced across Asia and the Middle East in late April was made 45 times more likely in some parts of the continent due to human-caused climate change. The extreme temperatures, well above 40 degrees Celsius, were felt in locations such as Gaza, the Philippines, and India, leading to heat-related deaths and impacts on agriculture and education. The study used established climate models to determine the influence of climate change on these extreme weather events.
The study revealed that the extreme heat in the Philippines would have been impossible without human-caused climate change. In the Middle East, the probability of the event was increased by a factor of five due to climate change. The lead author of the study, climate scientist Friederike Otto, emphasized the impact of rising temperatures on vulnerable populations, stating that continued burning of fossil fuels will lead to further warming and more deaths. The heat in April resulted in numerous heat-related deaths across countries like Bangladesh, India, and Gaza, as well as surges in heat-related fatalities in Thailand and the Philippines.
The extreme heat also had significant consequences on agriculture, causing crop damage and reduced yields, as well as on education with school closures and extended vacations in various countries. Several countries, including Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines, experienced record-breaking temperatures in April. Climate experts highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme heat events in South Asia, with temperatures now about 0.85 degrees Celsius hotter in the region due to climate change. Internally displaced persons, migrants, and those in refugee camps were identified as particularly vulnerable to the searing temperatures.
Aditya Valiathan Pillai, a heat plans expert at a New Delhi-based think tank, emphasized the alarming nature of the study’s findings, stating that the impacts of extreme heat could be deadly for those living in vulnerable conditions. Pillai stressed the importance of raising awareness about heat risks, making public and private investments to address increasing heat, and conducting more research on its impacts to mitigate future heat waves. He expressed that heat is now one of the foremost risks in terms of personal health and economic development for millions worldwide.
The study underscored the urgent need for action to address the escalating threat of extreme heat events worsened by climate change. Pillai’s remarks highlighted the importance of prioritizing measures to protect vulnerable populations, improve heat resilience, and invest in infrastructure and services that can mitigate the impacts of rising temperatures. As the global community grapples with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the study serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the root causes of climate change to protect communities and ecosystems from the escalating impacts of a warming planet.
