Extreme heat in July had “devastating impacts” on hundreds of millions of people, making it the hottest day on record in the world, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Wednesday.
A report on the temperatures of the most recent report released this fourth fair, which has not concluded since July was more than ever (global average temperatures for 13 consecutive months, until June 2024, for all records), informs WMO that The July data are another indication of how greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the climate.
They also underline the urgency of the call to action on extreme heat launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
“Last year, widespread, intense and prolonged heat waves hit all continents. At least ten countries recorded daily temperatures exceeding 50°C (degrees Celsius) in more than one place. “This is getting too hot to handle,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
The UN organisation is committed to responding to António Guterres’ call to action with better early warnings and action plans on thermal health, he added.
Warnings in 57 countries could save nearly 100,000 lives a year, WMO estimates.
“Adaptation to climate change alone is not enough. We need to tackle the root causes and get serious about reducing record levels of greenhouse gas emissions,” Celeste Saulo was quoted as saying in the statement.
Over the past month, WMO has recalled that globally The 22nd was the hottest and the 23rd was practically a tie.
Although natural climate variability may play an important role, Temperature anomalies of up to 10°C in Antarctica are unusual, improves the organization.
Regionally, in Asia, Japan and China had their highest average monthly temperatures on record in July, India had its second-hottest July on record, and Pakistan and Iran suffered repeated heat waves.
In Africa, Morocco suffered two consecutive heat waves, and in Europe, many areas of the Mediterranean and the Balkans also suffered prolonged heat waves. The heat wave that hit several countries, including Portugal, would not have occurred without man-made climate change, according to a scientific study cited by the WMO.
Several countries, including Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria, recorded their hottest July on record. In the past four years, Greece has recorded three of the four hottest Julys in at least the past 80 years.
In North America, the United States also did not escape temperature records (more than 80 records) and in South America, where it is now winter, some countries recorded temperatures more typical of summer, above 30 and 35ºC in areas of Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina.
Source: Observadora
