July 2023 has been a month of extreme weather events and devastating consequences, intensifying climate crisis. Unprecedented heatwaves have gripped regions worldwide, with Europe, the US, China, and other areas experiencing record-breaking temperatures. Scientific evidence points to human-caused climate change as a major driver behind these deadly heatwaves.
The month of July has come and about to be gone today July 31. With it, a series of extreme weather events has caused widespread disruption and damage around the world.
The world has seen a disturbing trend in climate crisis for two full months: June and July.
First-time heatwaves have been witnessed in different parts of the world, with Europe being notably affected, leading to historically high temperatures. June experienced an average global temperature that surpassed the pre-industrial norm by 1.47 degrees Celsius, setting a new record as the hottest June ever recorded. The United Nations has expressed concerns, cautioning that these extreme heat events may continue to shatter additional records.
In the US, certain regions are experiencing such intense heat that medical professionals are attending to patients who have suffered burn injuries from falling on pavements. The situation has become concerning as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association reports that over 5,000 heat records have been either broken or equalled across the country in the past few weeks.
Human-caused climate crisis
Scientific confirmation is that the recent deadly heatwaves experienced in Europe and the US can be directly attributed to the human-caused climate crisis. These extreme heat events, responsible for breaking temperature records in numerous places, would have been highly unlikely to occur without the global warming effects caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Come July, the temperature records were shattered in multiple regions spanning southern Europe, the western US, Mexico, and China. These heatwaves resulted in fatalities and wildfires due to the extreme heat. Notably, the first week of July witnessed the highest global temperatures ever documented.
Research findings establish that greenhouse gas emissions play a significant role in amplifying the intensity of the heatwaves. Specifically, in Europe, the heatwaves were made 2.5 degrees Celsius hotter, while in North America, they were intensified by two degrees Celsius, and in China, the increase was one degree Celsius, compared to a hypothetical scenario without human-induced alterations to the global atmosphere.
Climate crisis researchers attribute the rising global temperatures to decades of human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assesses that human activities are the primary driver responsible for over 50% of the observed rise in global mean surface temperature between the years 1951 and 2010.
The combustion of fossil fuels contributes to global warming. It causes heatwaves to occur with greater frequency and intensity.
Shipping industry, major contributor
The global shipping industry produces as much carbon dioxide annually as Germany. Experts warn that this sector is fast becoming an obstacle in the fight against climate change.
Highly polluting fuels significantly contribute to the shipping industry’s carbon footprint. Currently, this sector is responsible for approximately 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to Germany’s annual emissions or that of 243 coal plants.
Shipping serves as the fundamental pillar of international trade, facilitating the transportation of approximately 90% of the world’s commodities across oceans and seas.
The net zero emissions concept is at the forefront of discussions, where emissions generated by ships would be balanced with the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Several delegates advocate for an ambitious target to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050, along with a milestone to halve emissions by 2030.
Devastating consequences
Uruguayis experiencing its worst recorded drought in 74 years. Low rainfall and record high temperatures have led to water shortages, forcing millions of people to rely on bottled water for drinking.
In China, unusually high temperatures have caused chaos. Umbrellas were soon being used to shelter from the sun rather than the rain, and the country provisionally broke its highest temperature record on July 16 when it recorded 52.2C (126F) in the western Xinjiang region.
Extremely high temperatures have led to turmoil in southern Europe and north Africa. Greece, in particular, experienced its most severe July in history regarding wildfires, as the scorching heatwave turned the surroundings into dry fuel, enabling the fires to spread rapidly. Olive groves, beaches, holiday resorts, and residential properties were engulfed in flames. According to the WWF charity, approximately 86,500 acres of land have been devastated by the fires.
In Italy, two powerful heatwaves hit back-to-back. The Government advised everyone, not just the elderly or more vulnerable, to stay indoors for much of the day and many cities were forced to provide extra relief to tourists struggling in the heat. At the end of the month, the arid weather conditions resulted in wildfires spreading throughout Sicily, causing significant damage, including the destruction of a petrol station located on a major motorway on the island. Additionally, Palermo airport had to be shut down due to the wildfires’ impact.
Moving to the eastern region, Syria is also grappling with extreme heat and wildfires. Medical organisations express heightened concern regarding the well-being of almost two million individuals residing in internally displaced camps within the war-torn nation. The intense heatwave poses significant risks and challenges for these vulnerable populations.
Indeed, throughout history, weather extremes have been observed, but the recent succession of record-breaking events and dramatic incidents has caught scientists by surprise. July is now considered “virtually certain” to be the warmest month ever recorded globally, according to scientists. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has issued a warning, stating that the world has entered an era of “global boiling,” highlighting the severity of the ongoing climate crisis.
