A new scientific study reveals that recent heat waves across North America and Europe would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change.
In China, mid-July temperatures soaring above 52°C (126°F) were found to be 50 times more likely due to global warming. Conducted by the World Weather Attribution group, the study highlights heat waves as among the deadliest natural hazards, causing thousands of deaths annually.
Previously, such extreme heat events were rare, occurring roughly every 15 years in the U.S. and Mexico, every 15 years in southern Europe, and every five years in China.
However, increasing greenhouse gas emissions have made these events more common. Friederike Otto from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change emphasized the importance of adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts.
Scorching temperatures in China reached over 52°C (126°F) in mid-July, an event 50 times more likely due to global warming, according to a new study.The study coincides with the planet recording its hottest days in early July, underscoring the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization stresses the need for increased efforts to help society adapt to this “new normal.”
Using peer-reviewed methods, researchers from Imperial College London, the Dutch national weather service, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre identified the climate crisis’s impact on major heat events.
The study found that without the climate emergency, the heat waves would have been significantly cooler by over 2.5°C in southern Europe, 2°C in North America, and 1°C in China.
The research warns that unless fossil fuel use is rapidly curtailed, heat waves will become more frequent and intense. A 2°C warmer world compared to preindustrial levels could see such events every 2-5 years.
The study calls for accelerated heat action plans, which are already being implemented in affected regions, potentially reducing heat-related mortality. Scientists note that the world has warmed by about 1.1°C due to over a century of fossil fuel use and unsustainable practices.