Latest news with #FriederikeOtto
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Japan Times
Half the world has faced an extra month of extreme heat, study finds
Half the global population endured an additional month of extreme heat over the past year because of human-caused climate change, a new study found Friday. The findings underscore how the continued burning of fossil fuels is harming health and well-being on every continent, with the effects especially under-recognized in developing countries, the authors said. "With every barrel of oil burned, every ton of carbon dioxide released, and every fraction of a degree of warming, heat waves will affect more people," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the report. The analysis — conducted by scientists at World Weather Attribution, Climate Central, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre — was released ahead of global Heat Action Day on June 2, which this year spotlights the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To assess the influence of global warming, researchers analyzed the period from May 1, 2024 to May 1, 2025. They defined "extreme heat days" as those hotter than 90% of temperatures recorded at a given location between 1991 and 2020. Using a peer-reviewed modeling approach, they then compared the number of such days to a simulated world without human-caused warming. The results were stark: Roughly 4 billion people — 49% of the global population — experienced at least 30 more days of extreme heat than they would have otherwise. The team identified 67 extreme heat events during the year and found the fingerprint of climate change on all of them. The Caribbean island of Aruba was the worst affected, recording 187 extreme heat days — 45 more than expected in a world without climate change. The study follows a year of unprecedented global temperatures. 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, while January 2025 marked the hottest January ever. On a five-year average, global temperatures are now 1.3 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels — and in 2024 alone, they exceeded 1.5 C, the symbolic ceiling set by the Paris climate accord. The report also highlights a critical lack of data on heat-related health impacts in lower-income regions. While Europe recorded more than 61,000 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022, comparable figures are sparse elsewhere, with many heat-related fatalities misattributed to underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease. The authors emphasized the need for early warning systems, public education, and heat action plans tailored to cities. Better building design — including shading and ventilation — and behavioral adjustments like avoiding strenuous activity during peak heat are also essential. Still, adaptation alone will not be enough. The only way to halt the rising severity and frequency of extreme heat, the authors warned, is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Heatwaves getting worse? Scientists say answer is to cut out fossil fuels, fast
ISTANBUL, May 31 — Human-driven climate change added an average of 30 extra days of extreme heat over the past year for nearly half of the world's population, according to a new report released Friday ahead of Heat Action Day on June 2. The study, conducted by scientists from World Weather Attribution (WWA), Climate Central, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, emphasises the growing risks posed by heat waves as global fossil fuel use continues, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Between May 2024 and May 2025, some four billion people, about half of the global population, faced at least 30 additional days of extreme heat, defined as temperatures hotter than 90 per cent of historical observations for their regions, compared to a world without climate change. The researchers also found that climate change increased the number of extreme heat days by at least twofold in 195 countries and territories. All 67 major heat events recorded in the last year were exacerbated by human-caused climate change. 'This study needs to be taken as another stark warning. Climate change is here, and it kills,' said Friederike Otto, co-lead of WWA and senior lecturer at Imperial College London. 'We know exactly how to stop heat waves from getting worse: restructure our energy systems to be more efficient and based on renewables, not fossil fuels.' Mariam Zachariah, a researcher at Imperial College London, described the results as 'staggering,' noting that frequent, intense heat spells are linked to widespread impacts, including heat illnesses, deaths, crop losses, lowered productivity, and transport disruptions. Roop Singh, head of Urban and Attribution at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, emphasised the urgent need to scale up responses. 'We need better early warning systems, heat action plans, and long-term urban planning to meet the rising challenge,' Singh said. Vice President for Science at Climate Central Kristina Dahl stressed that heat is the deadliest consequence of climate change. 'There is no place on Earth untouched by climate change, and we have the science to quantify how fossil fuel emissions are reshaping our daily temperatures and putting billions at risk,' she said. The report calls for governments to strengthen heat action plans, increase monitoring and reporting of heat impacts, and prioritise long-term adaptation strategies. — Bernama-Anadolu
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Half the world faced an extra month of extreme heat due to climate change: Study
Half the world faced an extra month of extreme heat due to climate change: Study (Photo: AFP) Half the global population endured an additional month of extreme heat over the past year because of manmade climate change , a new study found Friday. The findings underscore how the continued burning of fossil fuels is harming health and well-being on every continent, with the effects especially under-recognized in developing countries, the authors said. "With every barrel of oil burned, every tonne of carbon dioxide released, and every fraction of a degree of warming, heat waves will affect more people," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the report. The analysis -- conducted by scientists at World Weather Attribution, Climate Central, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre -- was released ahead of global Heat Action Day on June 2, which this year spotlights the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo To assess the influence of global warming , researchers analyzed the period from May 1, 2024 to May 1, 2025. They defined "extreme heat days" as those hotter than 90 percent of temperatures recorded at a given location between 1991 and 2020. Using a peer-reviewed modeling approach, they then compared the number of such days to a simulated world without human-caused warming. The results were stark: roughly four billion people, 49 percent of the global population, experienced at least 30 more days of extreme heat than they would have otherwise. The team identified 67 extreme heat events during the year and found the fingerprint of climate change on all of them. The Caribbean island of Aruba was the worst affected, recording 187 extreme heat days -- 45 more than expected in a world without climate change. The study follows a year of unprecedented global temperatures. 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, while January 2025 marked the hottest January ever. On a five-year average, global temperatures are now 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- and in 2024 alone, they exceeded 1.5C, the symbolic ceiling set by the Paris climate accord. The report also highlights a critical lack of data on heat-related health impacts in lower-income regions. While Europe recorded more than 61,000 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022, comparable figures are sparse elsewhere, with many heat-related fatalities misattributed to underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease. The authors emphasized the need for early warning systems, public education, and heat action plans tailored to cities. Better building design -- including shading and ventilation -- and behavioral adjustments like avoiding strenuous activity during peak heat are also essential. Still, adaptation alone will not be enough. The only way to halt the rising severity and frequency of extreme heat, the authors warned, is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels.
Saba Yemen
3 days ago
- Science
- Saba Yemen
Study: Half world's population experienced extra month of extreme heat due to climate change
London - Saba: Half the world's population experienced an extra month of extreme heat last year due to human-caused climate change, according to a new study published on Friday. The study found that continued burning of fossil fuels is harming health and well-being on every continent, noting that the impacts are often under-recognized in developing countries, according to Reuters. "With every barrel of oil burned, every ton of carbon dioxide released, and every fraction of a degree of warming, heatwaves will affect more people," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the report. The analysis, conducted by scientists at World Weather Attribution, Climate Central, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center, was published days before World Heat Action Day on June 2, which this year highlights the risks of heat stress and heatstroke. To analyze the impact of global warming, the researchers examined the period from May 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025. They defined "extreme heat days" as days with temperatures exceeding 90 percent of those recorded in the same location from 1991 to 2020. Using a simulation approach whose results were reviewed by independent analysts, the study authors compared the number of extreme heat days recorded with the number in a hypothetical world unaffected by human-induced warming. The results were shocking: nearly 4 billion people, or 49% of the world's population, experienced at least 30 more days of extreme heat than a world without climate change. The team monitored 67 extreme heat waves during the year, finding the signature of climate change in every one. The Caribbean island of Aruba was the hardest hit, recording 187 days of extreme heat, 45 more than would have been expected without climate change. This study follows a year that set unprecedented global temperatures. 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, and January 2023 was the hottest January ever. On average, global temperatures are now 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, and in 2024 alone, they exceeded the symbolic limit set by the Paris Climate Agreement by 1.5°C. The report also highlighted the lack of data on the health impact of heat, particularly in low-income countries. While Europe recorded more than 61 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022, there is no comparable data for other regions, and heat-related deaths are often attributed to heart or respiratory diseases. The researchers emphasized the importance of early warning systems, public awareness, and city-specific climate action plans. Improved building design, including shading and ventilation, and behavior modification, such as avoiding strenuous activities during peak heat, are also essential. However, adaptation alone will not be enough. The study authors warned that the only way to halt the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme heat is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Science
- GMA Network
Half the world faced an extra month of extreme heat due to climate change — study
The sun shines through a saguaro cactus in Phoenix, Arizona on June 7, 2024. Millions remain under heat alerts as Phoenix and Las Vegas, Nevada break temperature records, with Phoenix reaching a record 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) on June 6, 2024. Jim Watson/ AFP/File photo WASHINGTON - Half the global population endured an additional month of extreme heat over the past year because of manmade climate change, a new study found Friday. The findings underscore how the continued burning of fossil fuels is harming health and well-being on every continent, with the effects especially under-recognized in developing countries, the authors said. "With every barrel of oil burned, every tonne of carbon dioxide released, and every fraction of a degree of warming, heat waves will affect more people," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the report. The analysis -- conducted by scientists at World Weather Attribution, Climate Central, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre -- was released ahead of global Heat Action Day on June 2, which this year spotlights the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To assess the influence of global warming, researchers analyzed the period from May 1, 2024 to May 1, 2025. They defined "extreme heat days" as those hotter than 90 percent of temperatures recorded at a given location between 1991 and 2020. Using a peer-reviewed modeling approach, they then compared the number of such days to a simulated world without human-caused warming. The results were stark: roughly four billion people -- 49 percent of the global population -- experienced at least 30 more days of extreme heat than they would have otherwise. The team identified 67 extreme heat events during the year and found the fingerprint of climate change on all of them. The Caribbean island of Aruba was the worst affected, recording 187 extreme heat days -- 45 more than expected in a world without climate change. The study follows a year of unprecedented global temperatures. 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, while January 2025 marked the hottest January ever. On a five-year average, global temperatures are now 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- and in 2024 alone, they exceeded 1.5C, the symbolic ceiling set by the Paris climate accord. The report also highlights a critical lack of data on heat-related health impacts in lower-income regions. While Europe recorded more than 61,000 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022, comparable figures are sparse elsewhere, with many heat-related fatalities misattributed to underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease. The authors emphasized the need for early warning systems, public education, and heat action plans tailored to cities. Better building design -- including shading and ventilation -- and behavioral adjustments like avoiding strenuous activity during peak heat are also essential. Still, adaptation alone will not be enough. The only way to halt the rising severity and frequency of extreme heat, the authors warned, is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. — Agence France-Presse
