At the beginning of July, the warmest day in history was measured worldwide – four times in a row. From July 3 to 6, the average temperature on Earth rose to its highest level since records began in 1979. The American broadcaster CNN headlined that these were probably the warmest days on Earth in 100,000 years.
North America has been battling unprecedented extreme weather for months: Huge forests are on fire in the north, rain is falling as it only does once in a millennium, cities are under water and the south is suffering record heat. The damage is enormous – the efforts of the industrialized countries are manageable.
Weather disasters are never far away
It really doesn’t matter which part of the US or Canada you look at: weather disasters are never far away. While flooding in New York and Vermont in the northeastern United States has just eased after heavy rains, the Southwest is currently groaning under unbearable heat. The National Weather Service has issued a high temperature warning for at least 93 million people. “This is the result of a high-pressure ridge over the southwestern US that will intensify over the weekend,” it said.
American media spoke of a heat bubble. In some regions in the south of the US states of California, Nevada and Arizona, temperatures of almost 49 degrees were expected this weekend. Further east in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, humid heat of up to 46 degrees should be expected. All affected regions would find it difficult to cool down at night, so little relief could be expected even after sunset.
100,000 square meters of forest burned down
Canada sets a sad record this year: according to authorities, 100,000 square kilometers of forest and other landscapes have already burned (as of Saturday) – an area larger than Hungary. Canada is experiencing the worst wildfire season in its history. Record heat and record drought not only caused fires, but also apocalyptic images. Not only the metropolis of New York on the east coast of the US was temporarily enveloped in a dense yellowish veil of smoke that moved south.
Kirsten Thonicke of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research relates the magnitude of Canada’s wildfires to the ongoing climate crisis: “Canada winter was too dry, spring too warm; the effects of climate change are increasing in the arctic regions, it was much too hot here,” she explains. In some cases, cities like Toronto measured more than 30 degrees in spring – 18 degrees warmer than normal.
“Weather constellations are becoming more and more stable”
“The reason for this is a persistent high pressure area, which brought warm and dry air into the region. With increasing climate change, these weather constellations are becoming more and more stable, so that these situations last longer and longer,” continues Thonicke. In any case, the megafires are ecologically catastrophic and they jeopardize the recovery capacity of the affected forests and tundra areas And researchers are not only sounding the alarm here: in southern Florida, water temperatures have risen to more than 32 degrees – seriously endangering the survival of corals in the region .
Scientists agree on the link between the latest weather phenomena and the climate crisis. But while activists try to make their voices heard with increasingly polarizing actions, according to the United Nations (UN), politics and business are still not doing enough to meet the Paris 1.5 degree target. Many experts have long considered it unattainable.
The damage from climate disasters is increasing
Meanwhile, damage from weather and climate disasters is increasing every year. According to official figures, in 2022 this was 176 billion dollars in the US alone. In comparison, the average value per year from 1980 to today is 58.5 billion.
In New York, an increasingly desperate UN Secretary-General appeared before the cameras. António Guterres has made the fight against the climate crisis his central concern. He continues to preach that all countries must significantly step up their efforts to achieve a 45 percent reduction in emissions by the end of the decade.
And while states are still struggling to find compromises for the future and radical measures are out of reach, Guterres drew a sobering and shocking conclusion a few days ago: “
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
