Why are countries around the world experiencing excessive heat? | BBC News

Summary

The program discusses extreme weather events across four continents, highlighting the impact of climate change. It reports over a thousand deaths in Saudi Arabia due to heat during the Harge Festival and mentions record-breaking temperatures in India, Europe, and the US, where wildfires are exacerbated by high temperatures. Scientists from World Weather Attribution confirm that human-induced climate change has made extreme heat events 35 times more likely, with heatwaves now four times more probable than in 2000. The interview with Ruping, head of urban attribution at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center, emphasizes the importance of nighttime cooling and the role of heat domes in exacerbating heat impacts. The segment also covers individual and governmental actions to mitigate heatwave effects, including early warning systems and heat action plans.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Extreme weather is being experienced across four continents, indicating the impact of climate change on global temperatures.
• 🔥 In Saudi Arabia, over a thousand people died due to extreme heat during the Harge Festival.
• 🌡️ India's capital Delhi has seen temperatures soar above 50° C, causing several deaths.
• 🏛 Greece has experienced its earliest summer heatwave on record.
• 🔥 The United States is battling wildfires exacerbated by high temperatures and a brewing tropical storm.
• ⚠️ A report by World Weather Attribution states that human-induced climate change has made extreme heat events 35 times more likely in the US Southwest, Mexico, and Central America.
• 🌡️ Nighttime temperatures have become up to 200 times more likely to be extreme, impacting human health and recovery.
• 🌳 Climate change is caused by increasing greenhouse gases, which supercharge weather systems and create persistent heat domes.
• ⏰ Heatwave early warning systems can predict maximum temperatures days in advance, providing an opportunity to reduce impacts.
• 🏠 Individual actions such as passive cooling, shading homes, and planting trees can help mitigate heat impacts.
• 🏛️ Governments and organizations like the Red Cross are urged to develop heat action plans, including opening cooling centers and distributing water during heatwaves.

Q & A

What is being discussed in the program's introduction?

The program is discussing the extreme weather conditions being experienced across four continents, highlighting the impact of climate change on temperatures and recent heat-related deaths.

How many people have reportedly died due to heat in the annual Harge Festival in Saudi Arabia?

More than a thousand people have reportedly died due to the stifling heat during the annual Harge Festival in Saudi Arabia.

What temperatures have been recorded in Delhi, India, according to the script?

Temperatures in Delhi, India have been recorded to be more than 50° C.

What is the significance of the report released by scientists from World Weather Attribution?

The report states that human-induced climate change has made recent extreme heat in the US Southwest, Mexico, and Central America around 35 times more likely.

What is the role of Ruping, the head of urban attribution at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center, in the program?

Ruping's team helped develop the report on climate change and extreme heat, and she is invited to the program to discuss the findings and implications.

What is the impact of nighttime temperatures on human health as mentioned in the script?

Nighttime temperatures, which are becoming more likely due to climate change, impact human health as they are when the body is supposed to rest and recover, leading to many heat-related deaths.

What is the mechanism behind the increasing temperatures and heatwaves mentioned in the script?

The mechanism involves increasing greenhouse gases that warm the planet and supercharge weather systems, leading to heat domes where heat sticks around for extended periods.

What is a 'heat dome' and how does it affect temperatures?

A heat dome is an area of high pressure with little cloud cover and rainfall, resulting in high temperatures that persist for days, impacting both infrastructure and people's ability to cope with the heat.

How can heatwave early warning systems help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat?

Heatwave early warning systems can predict maximum temperatures days in advance, providing an opportunity to warn people and reduce the impacts of heatwaves.

What individual actions and government measures are suggested to adapt to the extreme heat?

Individual actions include staying hydrated, using passive cooling technologies, shading homes, and planting trees. Government measures involve developing heat action plans, opening cooling centers, distributing water, and ensuring access to electricity for cooling.

What is the current situation regarding extreme heat and wildfires in the United States as described by the correspondent?

Over a quarter of the US population is under an excessive heat advisory with temperatures exceeding 90° F and expected to go over 100° F. Wildfires are breaking out on the west coast, made worse by high temperatures.

How have authorities and the political discourse reacted to the extreme weather conditions?

The advice from authorities is to stay safe and follow common sense measures such as seeking shade, drinking water, and managing outdoor work for vulnerable groups. The script does not provide specific political reactions but emphasizes the importance of personal and community adaptation.

Outlines

00:00

🌡️ Extreme Weather and Climate Change Impacts

The first paragraph of the script discusses the extreme weather events occurring across four continents, highlighting the human cost of climate change. It mentions over a thousand deaths in Saudi Arabia during the Harge Festival due to heat and reports of deaths in Delhi, India, where temperatures exceeded 50°C. Europe and the United States are also experiencing record temperatures, with Greece facing its earliest summer heatwave and the US battling wildfires exacerbated by high temperatures and tropical storms. Scientists from World Weather Attribution have released a report indicating that human-induced climate change has made recent heatwaves 35 times more likely, with a fourfold increase in likelihood since 2000. The report emphasizes the role of greenhouse gases in warming the planet and intensifying weather systems, leading to prolonged heat events known as 'heat domes.' The script includes an interview with Ruping, Head of Urban Attribution at the Red Cross Red Cresent Climate Center, who explains the significance of the findings and the mechanisms behind the heatwaves. It also touches on the importance of heatwave early warning systems and the need for adaptation strategies at the individual and governmental levels.

05:02

🔥 US Heatwaves and Wildfires: A Closer Look

The second paragraph provides an update on the extreme weather conditions in the United States, with the first day of summer marking the onset of an excessive heat advisory for over a quarter of the population. Temperatures have soared past 90°F and are expected to exceed 100°F across a wide region from the Ohio Valley to New England, including Maine, which is unusual for such heat. The script mentions school closures in New York City due to the heat and the outbreak of wildfires on the West Coast, with two fatalities reported in New Mexico. The advice given to the public, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and outdoor workers, includes seeking shade, staying hydrated, and being cautious of the effects of certain medications in high temperatures. The script also notes the political discourse around the issue, with authorities urging the public to take common-sense precautions and warning of the potential for even hotter temperatures in the future.

Keywords

💡Extreme Weather

Extreme weather refers to unusual and often severe meteorological events, such as heatwaves, storms, and floods, that can have significant impacts on human life and the environment. In the video script, extreme weather is discussed as a sign of climate change, affecting four continents and causing record-breaking temperatures and numerous deaths, highlighting its relevance to the theme of the video.

💡Climate Change

Climate change is a long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, primarily attributed to human activities that increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. In the script, climate change is linked to the extreme heat events and their intensification, making it a central concept to understanding the video's message about the consequences of global warming.

💡Record-Breaking Heat

Record-breaking heat denotes temperatures that exceed the highest previously recorded values for a specific location and time. The script mentions the record-breaking heat in Saudi Arabia and its deadly impact on pilgrims, emphasizing the severity of the current heatwaves and their connection to climate change.

💡Harge Festival

The Harge Festival is an annual event in Saudi Arabia, which in the script is mentioned as the setting for a tragic incident where over a thousand people died due to extreme heat. This example illustrates the human cost of climate change-induced heatwaves.

💡Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India, is cited in the script as experiencing temperatures exceeding 50° C, contributing to the narrative of global extreme heat events. It serves as a geographical reference point for the widespread nature of the heatwaves discussed.

💡Heatwave

A heatwave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which can be dangerous to human health and the environment. The script discusses the likelihood of heatwaves increasing due to climate change, with scientists stating that such events are now much more likely than in the past.

💡World Weather Attribution

World Weather Attribution is a collaborative effort of scientists that analyzes the role of climate change in specific weather events. In the script, they release a report indicating that human-induced climate change has made recent extreme heat events significantly more likely, underscoring the scientific basis for the video's theme.

💡Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, leading to the greenhouse effect and global warming. The script explains that the increase in greenhouse gases is causing the planet to warm, which in turn is 'supercharging' weather systems and leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves.

💡Heat Dome

A heat dome is a persistent area of high atmospheric pressure that results in a prolonged period of unusually hot weather. The script describes how heat domes are contributing to the duration of heat events, causing significant impacts on both infrastructure and human health.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation in the context of climate change refers to actions taken to prepare for and adjust to its effects. The script discusses individual and governmental adaptation measures, such as using passive cooling technologies and developing heat action plans, to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat events.

💡Heat Action Plans

Heat action plans are strategies developed by cities and governments to prepare for and respond to heatwaves. The script mentions these plans as a way for authorities to provide services and protect citizens during extreme heat events, illustrating the proactive measures that can be taken in response to climate change.

Highlights

Extreme weather is being experienced across four continents, indicating the impact of climate change.

Over a thousand people have reportedly died in Saudi Arabia due to record-breaking heat during the Harge Festival.

In India, temperatures in Delhi have reached over 50°C, resulting in several deaths.

Greece is experiencing its earliest ever summer heat wave.

The United States is facing wildfires on one coast and a brewing tropical storm on the other, exacerbated by high temperatures.

A report by World Weather Attribution states that human-induced climate change has made recent extreme heat events 35 times more likely.

The same report indicates that heat waves are now four times more likely than in the year 2000 due to planet-warming emissions.

Ruping, head of urban attribution at the Red Cross Red Cresent Climate Center, discusses the significant increase in both maximum and nighttime temperatures.

Nighttime temperatures are particularly impactful on human health and contribute to heat-related deaths.

Climate change, caused by increasing greenhouse gases, is 'supercharging' weather systems, leading to prolonged heat events.

Heat domes, areas of high pressure with minimal cloud cover and rainfall, are causing temperatures to persist for extended periods.

Heatwave early warning systems can predict maximum temperatures days in advance, providing an opportunity to mitigate impacts.

Individual actions such as passive cooling, hydration, and shading can help reduce heat wave impacts.

The Red Cross provides first aid for heat stroke and helps recognize signs of heat-related illnesses.

Governments and cities should develop heat action plans, including opening cooling centers and ensuring water and electricity access.

More than a quarter of the U.S. population is under an excessive heat advisory, with temperatures expected to exceed 100°F.

Wildfires are breaking out on the West Coast of the U.S., made worse by high temperatures and increased frequency.

Authorities advise the public to stay safe, especially vulnerable groups, by following common sense precautions during heat waves.

Political discourse has yet to fully integrate the urgency of climate change and its effects on extreme weather events.

Transcripts

welcome to the program we're going to

start with the extreme weather that's

being experienced across four continents

a sign that climate change May again

help push temperatures beyond the

record-breaking Heat last summer in

Saudi Arabia there are reports that more

than a thousand people have died

pilgrims at the annual Harge Festival

killed by the stifling heat we'll have

more on that in just a moment in India

there have been several deaths in the

capital Delhi temperatures were reaching

more than 50° C in Europe temperatur

have also risen with Greece experiencing

its earliest ever summer heat wave and

in the United States there are wildfires

on one Coast made worse with high

temperatures and a tropical storm

brewing on the

other well scientists from the world

weather attribution have released a

report today saying human induced

climate change made recent extreme heat

in the US Southwest Mexico and Central

America around 35 times more likely in

their new report scientists said such a

heat wave was now four times more likely

than it was in the year 2000 driven by

Planet warming

emissions let's speak to ruping head of

urban attribution at the Red Cross red

cresant climate Center her team helped

develop the report thank you for coming

on the

program absolutely so just talk us

through the headlines

here yeah so um the Heatwave that we saw

in Central and uh Central America and

North America

um is just evidence of the climate

change that we're seeing around the

world um in our attribution study we

found that climate change made the the

maximum temp temperatures 35 times more

likely and the nighttime temperatures up

to 200 times more likely and that's

really significant because it's really

the nighttime temperatures when your

body is supposed to rest and recover

that has impacts on human health and

that's what's actually causing a lot of

these heat related deaths and just

remind us of the mechanism here what is

happening in what is heating what to

lead to these

temperatures yeah so we know that um

climate change is caused by increasing

greenhouse gases and essentially those

greenhouse gases act to warm the planet

around the world but they're also act

acting to sort of supercharge weather

system so we're starting to see these

heat domes and ESS ually Heats stick

around for an extended period of time um

in different parts of the world we saw

that in uh Mexico and Central America

and we're also starting to see that now

um in the Northern and Eastern parts of

the United States so you said heat Dome

there just expand on that a little for

us what is it yeah absolutely so

essentially it's an area of high

pressure it's a place where you have um

not a lot of clouds not a lot of

rainfall but essentially um you just

have high temperatures that stick around

for for days and days and essentially

that the the duration of that heat

causes a lot of impacts both on

infrastructure but also on people and

people just aren't able to cope when

it's hot during the day and at night

continuously for for days on end so

people are going to have to try and

adapt now is it possible before we get

on to adaptations is it possible to

predict where and when this is going to

happen

so we have Heatwave early warning

systems and we have um typically lots of

warning before a heatwave occurs and so

um in most parts of the world we are

able to predict what the maximum

temperatures are going to be days in

advance and therefore um it actually is

a big opportunity for us to be able to

use that information to reduce the

impacts to warn people in advance of the

heat waves okay so if the warnings could

be in place what then what can people at

do what should government actually

do so there's individual actions so

essentially cooling yourself making sure

that you're drinking water um cooling

your home so passive cooling

Technologies um shading your homes um

making sure you're planting trees

outside or just closing the shades when

it's really hot is what people can do

but then you also have organizations

like the Red Cross where we're providing

first aid for people who are affected by

heat stroke for examp example helping

people recognize the signs of heat

related illnesses and take action before

it's too late and then of course um

cities and governments can work to

together to develop heat action plans

and that means essentially knowing what

they're going to do what services are

they going to provide when there is a

heatwave are they going to open up a

cooling center are they going to uh

distribute water ensuring that people

have adequate access to electricity

which they need in order to cool their

homes um during a heat wve ring thank

you very much for coming on the program

thank

you thanks right we're going to take a

closer look at what's happening with the

weather in the United States now our

correspondent n ikbal is in Washington

DC hi nomia just talk us through what's

happening well leis today is officially

the first day of summer and what a start

you've got more than a quarter of the

population that's under an excessive

heat advisory and generally 135 million

people are in imped and temperatures

have hit more than 90° fah and are

expected to go well over 100 uh from the

Ohio Valley to The Mid Atlantic right up

to New England I mean Maine if you think

about that that's the easternmost state

in the US doesn't usually get excessive

heat but it's thought that records will

be broken there um and in some parts of

uh on the East Coast like New York City

school is out for some uh a lot of

schools uh closed up uh today to let

children go home early uh because of the

excessive heat uh over on the west coast

we're seeing these wildfires break out

and it's worth mentioning that this

happens but it's happening more

frequently with more ferocity uh two

people were killed in New Mexico you

know we heard there some of the advice

that's been given and generally the

advice is especially for vulnerable

people children the elderly those who

work Outdoors especially here you see

them like a lot of construction workers

in parts of DC to just really look after

yourself seek shade make sure you drink

lots of water here in DC it's it's about

about 90° fah there is some cloud cover

so it doesn't feel as as sort of Stuffy

and swampy and stifling as it has been

in the past few days but the

temperatures here are expected to hit uh

over 100 over 100 degre fahit uh um

during the weekend and there will be

some rest bites a meteorologists reckon

that the temperatures might dip dip low

but then they will come right back back

up again next week and onwards and nor

given everything you've just told talked

about there has this seeped into the

political discourse any reaction from

authorities well it's usually the same

author sort of you know messages that we

get is just keep safe you know as much

as you can um you know it's it's kind of

sort of Follow The Common Sense advice

but as I mentioned for those who are in

a certain group children the elderly

those who work outside need to work

outside all day just just manage that

you know drink as much water as possible

get shade where you can there are like

lots of trees around here in DC you know

we're sort of standing under one so we

can get some shade but just try and uh

you know look after yourself in that way

there are also those vulnerable people

who take certain kinds of medicine that

you really can't regulate in this kind

of heat so it's you know warnings for

them as well so that that's just

generally the advice look it always gets

hot in DC I have to say you know I've

been here for a few years and every

summer it's really really hot H I think

this the prediction is that it's going

to get much much hotter so just you know

really heed that advice n yet thank you

so much for that