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By Vivek Saini
The summer of 2024 broke global records, marking a time of extreme heat that researchers linked to human-caused climate change. The warmest months ever seen, June to August, warned of what might become familiar if we don’t take quick steps to address climate issues. This season puts billions of people at risk from very high temperatures, causing worldwide problems with health, money, and society. At the core of these never-before-seen heat waves is the apparent effect of carbon emissions pushing Earth to its limits.
Half the World Exposed to Extreme Climate-Driven Heat
Over 60% of the world’s population faced extreme heat that was at least three times more likely by climate change during June 16-24, 2024. The Climate Shift Index (CSI), which checks how much humans affect temperature changes, showed levels at least three times more likely to happen because of climate change. This record-breaking heat didn’t just hit one area; it spread across continents, from the Americas to Asia, showing how the climate crisis affects everyone.
Climate experts have said for years that heatwaves would worsen and happen more often because of greenhouse gases. In 2024, we saw this come true. One in every four people worldwide felt temperatures much hotter than usual during the summer. Climate change made these hot spells more likely to happen. These numbers are shocking. They show us that global warming isn’t something that will happen in the future—it’s happening right now.
Extended Heatwaves Pose Escalating Health Risks to Billions
With increasing temperatures, healthcare risks linked to protracted spells of intense heat are growing troublingly. The summer of 2024 saw over 2 billion people facing 30 or more days of extreme temperatures caused by climate change. The continuous heat covered territories, including the Caribbean, Western Asia, and Southern Europe, with specific populations experiencing few to no breaks from the intense heat. This summer has brought significantly more frequent risky heat days, letting the average person experience 17 hotter days than 90% of temperatures compared to the baseline from 1991 to 2020.
The health consequences are significant and lethal. Heatstroke, dehydration, and heat-related heart conditions have become important public health worries for at-risk groups like senior citizens and those who work outdoors. The World Health Organisation has labeled heat a silent killer, indicating that it causes more deaths every year than numerous natural disasters. With the increase in extreme heat days, healthcare systems around the globe are finding it challenging to manage the influx of patients suffering from heat-related illnesses.
72 Nations Experienced Their Hottest Summer in History
As the world collectively struggled with extreme heat, 72 countries encountered their hottest summer since records began. This demonstrates a marked increase in the climate crisis, as nearly every part of the world shows temperature variations directly tied to fossil fuel combustion. Countries, including Spain, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and large fields of Europe and Africa, were heavily impacted by this crisis, feeling severe temperatures for more than a third of the 92 summer days.
For several cities, this represented not simply breaking previous records but a necessity for continued survival. Over 180 cities in the Northern Hemisphere dealt with extended and intense heat waves that tested the resilience of infrastructure and health services. These cities experience extreme heat waves 21 times more probable than before industrialisation, stressing the need to adopt measures that enhance climate resilience in urban environments rapidly.
India Endures Severe Climate-Driven Heatwaves
India is already conditioned to high summer temperatures, and it is facing one of the worst crises related to climate-induced heat in its history. During the summer of 2024, 619 million people were exposed to extreme heat. Temperatures across the Indian subcontinent soared to almost 50°C (122°F) in specific locales, and hissing nighttime lows reached new marks at 37°C (99°F). The unceasing heat resulted in serious health problems, including nearly 40,000 reported cases of heatstroke and over 100 deaths.
The impact went well beyond public health. With temperatures rising, the intense demands on the energy grid resulted in rolling power outages as individuals sought cooling from air conditioning. The foundation of India’s economy, agriculture, has likewise been affected as crops wither under the intense heat, deepening food insecurity. When agriculture is the backbone of livelihood for nearly half of the population, climate disruption presents a severe risk to national stability and individuals’ livelihoods.
Most Vulnerable Pay the Highest Price
The effects of climate change touch everyone, but the challenges are not shared in the same way. During the summer of 2024, it became evident that the world’s most vulnerable segments—those that cause little emissions of greenhouse gases—are facing the most significant costs. In contrast, small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs), responsible for only about 1% of global emissions, suffered disproportionately more from extreme heat when compared to their wealthier counterparts. Countries in the Caribbean and various regions of Africa experienced significantly more extreme heat days than the G20 nations despite their minimal role in climate change.
Such climate injustice affects more than just imminent health consequences. Countries that are still developing don’t have the necessary infrastructure to deal with these extreme conditions, which renders millions vulnerable to displacement, food insecurity, and economic slumps. With the intensification of climate change, the disparity between those experiencing the most significant impact and those who can adapt quickly continues to expand. Addressing this inequality is crucial, not only for fairness but also for the sake of global stability and peace.
References:
https://www.climatecentral.org/report/global-heat-review-june-2024
https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index
https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-summer-2024-hottest-record-globally-and-europe
NASA Finds Summer 2024 Hottest to Date
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health
https://www.climatecentral.org/report/people-exposed-to-climate-change-june-august-2024
Post on X by Extreme Temperatures Around The World
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