extreme heat Archives - Page 2 of 5

Apr152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Study Finds Europe Adapts Better to Cold Than Heat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

April 15 – Europe has made more progress in adapting to cold weather than to heatwaves over the last two decades, according to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre. The research published in The Lancet Planetary Health analyzed data from over 800 regions in 35 countries across Europe between 2003 and 2020. The findings reveal that the risk of death from cold temperatures dropped by 2% per year, while deaths linked to extreme heat also declined, but only by 1% annually. This suggests that while Europeans are increasingly resilient to cold the response to rising heat threats remains slower and less effective. To reflect the diverse climate and vulnerability across Europe, researchers introduce...

Apr112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kuwait Climate Crossroads: How Extreme Heat and Floods Are Exposing Gaps in Urban Planning and Risk Management

Breaking News, Climate Actions

As climate change accelerates, the Middle East is heating up nearly twice as fast as the global average and Kuwait is at the centre of this alarming trend. Countries on the Arabian Peninsula, including Kuwait, are projected to face temperature increases of 3–4°C decades earlier than much of the world. In fact, this shift is no longer theoretical it's already happening. Kuwait recorded a sweltering 54°C in 2016, one of the hottest temperatures ever documented worldwide. But heat isn’t the only hazard the country faces. Kuwait is also witnessing more intense and unpredictable rainfall events, leading to severe flash floods in cities like Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, and Kuwait City. This dangerous mix of extreme heat and flash floods is creating multi-hazard scenarios that are pushing Kuwait’s ...

Apr12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Gears Up for Deadly Summer IMD Warns of More Heatwave Days

Breaking News, Climate Actions

India is bracing for an intensely hot summer from April to June, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting above-normal temperatures across most regions. Central, eastern, and northwestern states are expected to endure more heatwave days than usual, raising concerns about increased electricity demand and health risks. According to IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, while El Niño conditions have been ruled out, the seasonal outlook suggests higher-than-average temperatures across the country. The most affected states include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Despite sporadic rainfall in March,...

Mar312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IMD Warns of Intense Summer Twice the Usual Heatwave Days in Northwest India

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that northwestern India will experience an exceptionally hot summer in 2025, with the number of heatwave days expected to double compared to the seasonal average. Typically, the region endures five to six heatwave days per summer, but this year, forecasts predict 10 to 12. "We are expecting slightly above-normal heatwave conditions, especially over West and Central India," said IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy. "While this is a seasonal outlook, it does not mean every day will be extremely hot." Will 2025 Set New Heat Records? While the IMD has not confirmed whether 2025 will surpass 2024’s record-breaking 554 heatwave days, the Seasonal Heat Outlook (March-May 2025) indicates that most of India will experience above-norm...

Mar312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Heat Threatens Child Growth in Bangladesh, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The first 1,000 days of life play a crucial role in shaping a child’s future. But what happens when those days are spent in extreme heat? A new study, Extreme Heat Exposure in the First 1000 Days: Implications for Childhood Stunting in Bangladesh, has found a direct link between rising temperatures and childhood stunting. Despite Bangladesh’s significant progress in reducing stunting from 42% in 2012 to 28% in 2019 climate change now poses a serious threat to these gains. Extreme heat, defined as temperatures exceeding historical norms, disrupts critical biological processes. A mere 1% increase in extreme heat days raises the likelihood of stunting by 56%. Exposure after birth has an even stronger impact 67% compared to 28% for in-utero exposure. Babies born to mothers facing high...

Mar282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Heatwaves Healthcare Systems as Rising Temperatures Expose Critical Weaknesses in Hospital Infrastructure and Patient Care

Breaking News, Climate Actions

As climate change accelerates extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe posing significant threats not only to human health but also to the capacity of healthcare systems to function effectively. While the direct effects of heat on conditions like heatstroke kidney damage, and cardiovascular stress are well documented, new research highlights a less visible but equally dangerous consequence hospital congestion and compromised patient care during heat-driven surges in demand. A recent study by Aguilar-Gomez et al. (2025) examines how extreme heat disrupts healthcare systems, using data from Mexico, where healthcare resources are often stretched thin and the frequency of heatwaves is expected to rise disproportionately compared to higher-latitude countries. Their findings re...

Mar272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Women Farmers in India Use Climate Insurance to Fight Extreme Heat

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Deepikaben Rathva stood in her parched Gujarat field, the cracked earth beneath her feet a stark reminder of the May 2024 heatwave that had burned her crops to dust. But this time instead of falling into debt or desperation, her mobile phone buzzed a message from the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) confirmed that an insurance payout had arrived. She hadn’t even filed a claim. For millions of women farmers in India, climate change is more than a crisis it’s a battle for survival. Limited land rights, smaller plots, and restricted financial access leave them especially vulnerable. A 2024 FAO report reveals that female-headed households lose 8% more income to heat stress than male-headed ones. If global temperatures rise by 1°C, their earnings could drop 34% more than their male c...

Mar262025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Heat Poses New Threat to Bangladesh’s Fight Against Child Stunting

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in reducing childhood stunting, cutting rates from 42% in 2012 to 28% in 2019. However™a new less understood threat looms climate change. Could rising temperatures erase years of progress in child health and nutrition? A recent study, Extreme Heat Exposure in the First 1,000 Days: Implications for Childhood Stunting in Bangladesh, has drawn a direct link between heat exposure during early childhood and stunting. It found that a 1% increase in extreme heat days raises the odds of stunting by 56%, with heat exposure after birth having a 67% stronger effect than in utero exposure (28%). How Heat Impacts Child Growth Extreme heat disrupts critical biological processes in both mothers and children: Pregnant women exposed to heat suffer from r...

Mar252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Temperatures Rising Heart Risks: How Extreme Heat Strains the Heart

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

For years scientists have studied how heat affects the human heart. However new research suggests that the most commonly used testing methods may not accurately reflect what happens during real-world heat waves. As climate change drives global temperatures higher understanding the true impact of extreme heat on heart function has become more crucial than ever. A groundbreaking study has uncovered key insights into how the human heart responds to heat stress. This findings could reshape how health agencies protect vulnerable populations during extreme weather events. The study analyzed data from over 400 laboratory studies involving more than 6,800 participants, revealing significant differences in how heating methods influence heart performance. Researchers find that exposure to enca...

Mar222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kochi Neglected Waterways Hold Key to City Survival as Climate Change Threats Mount

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Kochi once crisscrossed by a vibrant network of rivers, creeks, and canals now faces a stark reality encroachment, pollution, and stagnation have transformed its lifeline into a looming disaster. As rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and tidal surges intensify the risk of devastating floods local authorities, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have launched a bold initiative to revive the city’s waterways and fortify it against climate change. The Thevara-Perandoor (TP) Canal 10-kilometer stretch that once provided transport water, and storm drainage chosen as the starting point for this ambitious restoration. Years of neglect and urbanization have shrunk its widthobstructed its flow and turned it into a dumping ground for untreated waste. Despite past ...