heat Archives - Disasters News

May82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mosquitoes, Money & Heat: Why West Nile Virus Thrives in America’s Wealthiest Neighborhoods

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Each summer as warm evenings descend on American cities, a silent danger begins to stir: West Nile virus. Though often associated with tropical or rural areas, this mosquito-borne illness has quietly taken root in urban landscapes especially in the most affluent neighborhoods. In 2012, an unprecedented outbreak scorched Park Cities, a wealthy enclave within Dallas. The virus sickened 225 people, triggered 173 neuroinvasive cases like encephalitis and meningitis, and claimed 19 lives. Other major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Sacramento have also developed persistent West Nile hot spots. Why cities? Why the rich? The key vector is Culex quinquefasciatus, the Southern house mosquito. These mosquitoes don’t travel far and breed in stagnant water found in lawns, drains, flower...

May52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat, Health & Superbugs: Climate Crisis Could Drive Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surge, Study Warns

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

A major international study led by Chinese researchers has found that unchecked climate change could significantly worsen the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), potentially raising global AMR levels by more than 2% by 2050. The burden, the study warns will fall hardest on low- and middle-income countries already grappling with poor healthcare access and fragile infrastructure. The research was conducted by a team from Peking University, using data from more than 32 million bacterial samples collected across 101 countries between 1999 and 2022. It focused on six priority drug-resistant pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant strains of E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria known to cause deadly infections that are increasingly untreatable wi...

May52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IMD Warns of Heat, Storms & Rain Across States from May 3–9

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Hot & Humid Spell Over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted intense hot and humid conditions over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on May 3, 2025. With temperature and moisture levels set to rise, residents are advised to stay indoors during peak hours and hydrate frequently to avoid heat-related illnesses. Southern India Braces for Thunderstorms, Rain & Hail South Peninsular India will see widespread weather activity over the next seven days. Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds (30–40 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h) is expected over Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Mahe, and Yanam. Isolated hailstorms are also likely ...

May12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat, Hunger & Harm: How the Climate Crisis Deepens Gender Inequality and Violence

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present crisis that is widening gender gaps, increasing violence against women and girls, and reversing decades of progress in human rights and sustainable development. A UN Spotlight Initiative report reveals that rising global temperatures and related disasters are not just environmental concerns they are fueling gender-based violence, displacing communities, increasing food insecurity, and threatening the health and safety of millions of women worldwide. This article explores how climate change uniquely affects women and girls, why feminist climate justice is essential, and how women are leading transformative solutions. Climate Crisis: A Gendered Emergency The climate emergency is intensifying conditions that disproportionately h...

Apr162025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

2024 Turns Europe into Climate Flashpoint Record Heat Melting Glaciers Fiery Summers Alert

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The year 2024 etched itself into Europe’s climate history as the warmest year ever recorded unveiling the growing threat of uneven warming, violent weather swings, and rapid environmental degradation, according to The European State of the Climate 2024 report. A stark east-west climate divide unfolded across the continent scorching dry heat in the east, while the west weathered unusually warm, soggy seasons. Overall, 45% of the year’s days were significantly warmer than average, and 12% were the hottest ever, pushing Europe further into its position as the fastest-warming continent, said Florence Rabier, Director-General of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Averaged over five years, Europe's temperature is now 2.4°C above pre-industrial levels a milestone with dire...

Apr132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

CityCLIM Tackles Urban Heat Islands Offers Smart Solutions for Climate-Resilient Cities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

As record-breaking heat becomes increasingly common worldwide, more than 1.7 billion people face growing health and safety risks, according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). Their data shows that half of the world's cities have experienced rising heat exposure over the past four decades bringing mounting challenges for public health, productivity, and urban infrastructure. A recent study published in The Lancet by the EARLY-ADAPT Joint Research Centre project reveals that over 4% of summer mortality in European cities can be linked directly to Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) localized zones where urban surfaces amplify heat. These hotspots are a result of construction replacing natural landscapes, altering surface properties and often trapping pollutants. To tackle ...

Mar122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Heat in Eastern Africa Climate Change Worsens Crisis in South Sudan

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A severe heatwave has gripped Eastern Africa since mid-February, with South Sudan facing extreme daytime temperatures that have devastated vulnerable communities. Schools have been shut nationwide after dozens of children collapsed from heatstroke in Juba, while outdoor workers and those in poor housing conditions struggle to cope with the relentless heat. The heatwave has exacerbated existing hardships in South Sudan, where a third of Juba’s population lacks access to clean water, and only 1% of the city offers green spaces for respite. Houses, often built with iron roofs and no cooling systems, trap heat, making indoor conditions nearly unbearable. Women and girls face disproportionate risks as they spend hours working in agriculture, collecting water, and cooking in extreme temperatu...

Feb172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earth Surpasses 1.5°C Warming Threshold in 2024, Entering Era of Sustained Global Heat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

In 2024, the average annual global temperature anomaly officially surpassed the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold, marking a significant milestone in the planet’s long-term warming trend. Climate change researchers now suggest that the world has entered a phase of sustained warming, with drastic implications for global ecosystems and societies. The temperature limit of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels set as a target by the Paris Agreement in 2015 was originally intended to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. However, almost every month in recent years has individually surpassed this threshold, signaling that the goal is now nearly impossible to meet. Data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that the average global temperature in 2024 reached appr...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

B.C. Health Workers Face Mounting Climate Crisis Strain

Breaking News, Climate Actions

British Columbia has faced a series of climate-related extreme weather events in recent years, with severe consequences for both residents and health services. The 2021 heat dome led to over 600 heat-related deaths and overwhelmed emergency services, while wildfires caused increased illnesses and forced the evacuation of thousands. B.C.’s health system, already strained by staffing shortages and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has worked to respond to these emergencies. However, many health service workers reported physical and mental health challenges during and after climate events. Front-line staff, such as paramedics and home health workers, faced exposure to heat and poor air quality, especially when facilities lacked proper cooling and air filtration systems. The mental tol...

Jan212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke: One Can Turn Deadly

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

As global temperatures rise heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke are becoming more common. While they may seem similar at first, the difference between these two conditions could mean life or death, experts warn. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body struggles to cool down, typically due to prolonged exposure to heat or intense physical activity. The core temperature rises, but remains under 40°C. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, intense thirst, and dizziness, but the individual’s mental clarity remains unaffected. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is far more severe and classified as a medical emergency. When the body’s core temperature surpasses 40°C, the results can be catastrophic, with symptoms such as confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness. With...