Less than a month into summer 2024, an extreme heat wave has already gripped the vast majority of the U.S. population. Millions found themselves under heat warnings across the western U.S. in early July, while the eastern regions suffered through oppressive, humid conditions.
On July 7, Death Valley hit a perilous 129 degrees Fahrenheit (53.9 C), a day after a motorcyclist succumbed to heat exposure there. Las Vegas shattered its all-time heat record with a scorching 120 F (48.9 C). In California, a series of over-100-degree days parched the landscape, igniting wildfires, while Oregon reported multiple suspected heat-related deaths.
Heat Waves Sweeping the Globe
Extreme heat is not confined to the U.S. In 2024, countries around the world have experienced unprecedented temperatures. Each of the past 13 months has set new records for being the hottest for that month, including June, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus climate service. On July 8, 2024, Copernicus announced that the average global temperature over the previous 12 months had been at least 1.5 C (2.7 F) warmer than the pre-industrial average from 1850-1900.
The 1.5 C warming threshold is a critical marker agreed upon in the Paris climate agreement, where countries pledged to limit global warming to below this level. This goal, however, refers to the average temperature change over a 30-year period to mitigate the influence of annual fluctuations. Though the Earth has only crossed this threshold for a single year, the trend indicates the world is on track to exceed the 30-year average threshold within the next decade.
Global Impact of the 2024 Heat Wave
In Mexico and Central America, the heat wave began in spring 2024, combining with prolonged drought to cause severe water shortages and dozens of deaths. Saudi Arabia experienced a tragic heat event during the Hajj, with over 1,000 pilgrims collapsing and dying in the 125 F (51.8 C) temperatures at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on June 17.
Pakistan’s hospitals in Karachi were overwhelmed as weeks of high heat, power outages, and water shortages took their toll. Neighboring India faced consecutive days of around 120 F (48.9 C) in April and May, affecting millions without access to air conditioning. Greece endured days of over 100 F (37.8 C) in June, leading to several tourist fatalities. Japan issued heatstroke alerts as Tokyo and more than half of its prefectures recorded unprecedented temperatures in early July.
Heat waves are a natural part of the climate, but the intensity and scope of 2024’s heat events are beyond typical summer conditions. Scientific assessments indicate that the severe June heat wave in the eastern U.S. was two to four times more likely due to human-caused climate change. The increasing frequency of U.S. heat waves outside the peak summer season underscores the impact of global warming.
Today’s climate is globally more than 2.2 F (1.2 C) warmer, averaged over 30 years, than it was before the industrial revolution. This seemingly small temperature increase significantly alters the climate. During the last ice age, when the northeastern U.S. was under thousands of feet of ice, the global temperature was only about 11 F (6 C) cooler than now. Thus, 2.2 F (1.2 C) of warming is enough to cause dramatic changes.
Preparing for the Future
While this summer is poised to be one of the hottest on record, it may also be one of the coolest compared to future summers. Vulnerable populations, including young children, older adults, outdoor workers, and low-income communities without access to air conditioning, face increasingly dangerous conditions.
Extreme heat impacts economies by warping railroad tracks, sagging power lines, and causing blackouts when cooling demand peaks. However, there are solutions.
Countries have made progress toward reducing emissions, although not yet at the pace required by the Paris Agreement. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions nearly in half by 2035. Transitioning from air conditioners to heat pumps and network geothermal systems can reduce fossil fuel use and cooling costs. Renewable energy continues to become more affordable, with increasing policy support and incentives worldwide.
Rapidly reducing fossil fuel emissions is essential to avoiding a future with more severe heat waves and droughts. This action can improve public health, create jobs, and protect ecosystems. While the challenge is significant, urgent and collective action can mitigate the worst effects of climate change and pave the way for a sustainable future.
Mathew Barlow, Professor of Climate Science, UMass Lowell and Jeffrey Basara, Professor of Meteorology, UMass Lowell
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.