Climate change fuels rodent rise across the world
Eye on the news An increase in the rat population due to climate change poses urban challenges. Photo: TNS
Why are rat populations rising?
Why are rat populations rising? Enjoy the audio version of this article!
Rats are found everywhere around the world, except Antarctica, and are often seen as a sign of poverty and disease. A recent study shows that as the climate warms, rat populations are also increasing.
This growing rat population is a problem for city officials, as rats can cause damage to infrastructure and spread diseases.
Some cities spend around US$500 million (around HK$3.9 trillion) every year controlling rats. In New York, Mayor Eric Adams has launched a 'war on rats,' appointed a special official for rat control and even held the city's first National Urban Rat Summit.
However, reliable long-term data on rat populations is lacking. Researcher Kaylee Byers noted that while public complaint data about rats is useful, it can be inconsistent.
Answer: because of climate change Enjoy the audio version of this article!
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