More than Hot Air

Extreme weather changes globally have been alarming. It has been affecting harmony and health of the planet and its residents. But we often do not connect all these extreme events of cyclones, droughts, wildfires, heatwaves etc. to climate change.

It is true that not all these events occur due to prolonged environmental distress. But many of these events have been linearly linked to the changing climate of the planet. The intensified heatwaves and frequent wildfires are a testament of global warming.

Wildfires are hard to look past as their golden flames ultimately catch our attention, but we often ignore the heatwaves. Heatwaves are a period of abnormally high temperatures, i.e., when the maximum and minimum temperature stays unusually high for 3 or more days.

The world has been breaking all temperature records recently. After a comparatively cooler year due to the pandemic; 2021 and 2022 have been witnessing extreme temperatures. India and Pakistan experienced the highest ever recorded temperature of 50 degree Celsius this April and March. Even the uninhabited land of Antarctica encountered temperature as high as 18 degrees Celsius recently.

The consequence of a heatwave is more than the day getting a little hotter. It affects human health, agriculture, infrastructure, and environment. It often stimulates wildfires and droughts.

Heatwaves have proved to be fatal when combined with high humidity. Heat stress or stroke occurs when the human body fails to cool itself due to high temperature and humidity in the air. Children, people with chronic health conditions, and people with lower incomes are most vulnerable to heatwaves.

Heatwaves kill more Australians than any other natural hazard.

Animals also experience heat stress, which declines the health of livestock. Crops are adversely affected by these high temperatures. Periods of droughts gets elongated and are more common now.

India has also reported a 10–35% decline in crop yields in some parts of the country.

Extreme global temperatures have caused the destruction of many forests. These forests are a means of essential resources and livelihood for so many. Wildfires have burned down many agricultural lands too. Food security and livelihood of so many people are being put at risk with every rising degree.

In Spain, the 2019 heatwave sparked the worst wildfires in 20 years forcing evacuations.

Additionally, the demand for energy increases and the efficiency of producing energy decreases due to high temperatures. Unfortunately, that further contributes to global warming.

Cooling machines are also costly making the lower income population strata more vulnerable to heat. They are the ones who least contribute towards climate change but have to experience the worst of its consequences.