Calay News
A study by the non-profit organization Climate Central has revealed that the record temperatures that hit the northern hemisphere during the summer are due in large part to man-made climate change.
The study examined the period from June to August 2023 and found that greenhouse gas emissions since the start of the industrial era significantly increased the likelihood of heat waves in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
Almost half of the world’s population, or more than 3.8 billion people, was exposed to 30 or more days of extreme heat exacerbated by climate change. At least 1.5 billion people had to endure these high temperatures on a daily basis during those three months.
According to Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, “virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming over the past three months. In addition, he noted that “carbon pollution is clearly responsible for this season’s record heat.”
The analysis was based on peer-reviewed methods to determine the probability of daily temperatures in each country with and without current levels of carbon pollution. This allowed scientists to identify the climatic influence of extreme events.
The study also revealed a stark divide between the countries most responsible for carbon pollution and those that are less developed, as well as between small island states, which are experiencing three to four times more intense heat due to climate change.
Global exposure to extreme heat peaked on August 16, 2023, when 4.2 billion people worldwide experienced climate change-related temperature extremes. This study underscores the urgent need to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent increasingly frequent and destructive extreme weather events.
