According to AFP, citing the World Weather Attribution (WWA), the recent deadly heatwave engulfing the United States, Mexico, and Central America is likely 35 times more probable due to global warming.
Record-breaking heat has resulted in at least 125 deaths in Mexico, with thousands more suffering from heat-related illnesses. In its report, WWA analyzed the hottest consecutive five days in a “heat dome” that spanned the Southwestern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras at the end of May and the beginning of June.
Record temperatures during the heatwave in May and June have led to at least 125 deaths in Mexico. (Photo: Ulises Ruiz)
Scientists have pioneered the use of climate models to study how these extreme events have changed in a world that is over 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times. They concluded that human-induced warming from burning fossil fuels has made the maximum temperatures over the five-day period approximately 1.4 degrees hotter and about 35 times more likely compared to pre-industrial times.
Karina Izquierdo, a regional urban advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Red Cross Climate Center, stated: “The additional 1.4 degrees Celsius due to climate change will make the difference between life and death for many people in May and June. Besides reducing emissions, governments and cities need to take steps to cope with the heat.”
In Mexico and Central America, the impact of the heat is exacerbated by poor housing conditions and limited access to cooling services, particularly for those living in informal settlements. Extremely high temperatures also threaten the stability of electricity supply, which is crucial for healthcare facilities.
Experts assert that temperature is the most dangerous factor among all types of extreme weather, yet it is often underestimated, especially for children, the elderly, and outdoor workers.
WWA noted that as the world continues to burn fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, millions more are expected to face dangerous heat levels in the future. This year is set to be a record hot year, with vast areas around the globe beginning to endure scorching temperatures ahead of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
Greece has experienced the earliest heatwave on record, India has been enduring a prolonged heatwave for months, while the United States is grappling with wildfires and extreme heat. In Saudi Arabia, at least 900 people died during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, primarily due to heat, with temperatures in Mecca hitting 51.8 degrees Celsius on June 17.
