People faced extremely intense heat for 41 days in 2024, threat of climate change knocking at the doorstep of the world.

New Delhi: The threat of climate change is increasing. From Africa, which has the lowest carbon emissions, to the lush green forests of the Amazon, every corner of the world is struggling with climate change. In 2024, due to climate change, people suffered 41 days of extreme heat. These things have come to light from the reports of World Weather Attribution and Climate Central. The report itself warns that major steps will have to be taken to reduce weather-related deaths and losses in 2025 and beyond. To avoid threats like extreme heatwaves, droughts, forest fires, storms and floods in the future, we will have to speed up our efforts to get rid of fossil fuels.

Climate change hits Africa harder

Joyce Kimutai, research associate at the Center for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, said Africa has the lowest carbon emissions in the world. But, this region is becoming the biggest victim of weather events. Every year African governments suffer huge financial losses in dealing with natural disasters. In the year 2023, incidents like floods, drought and heatwaves will increase in Africa. These incidents not only had a deep impact on the local economy, but also threatened the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Kimutai said that by 2025, rich countries will have to start providing climate finance (funding to combat climate change), so that Africa can better face these problems.

Heat is increasing health risks

According to Joseph Gigre, Research Associate at Climate Central, the temperature in almost every part of the Earth has reached such a level that it can directly threaten human health. The number of summer days has started increasing in many countries. The risk of heart and lung diseases is increasing due to global warming. At the same time, climate scientist Daniel Gilford of Climate Central also warned on the increasing strength of storms. he/she told that due to sea temperature, the intensity of storms is now increasing more than before. These storms are becoming more powerful due to increasing wind speed. As a result, social and economic crisis is arising. The Amazon forests, which are called the lungs of the earth, are at risk from climate change. Drought incidents are increasing in the Amazon and are more severe than before. This will affect the local biodiversity.

What could be the solution?

• Rich countries will have to provide financial help to poor and developing countries to deal with climate disasters.
• We will have to abandon fossil fuels and adopt alternatives like solar and wind energy.
• The Amazon and other major forest areas have to be protected.
• Measures like climate friendly farming and water management will have to be implemented.

This is how summer will be in 2024

• In 2024, due to various reasons of climate change, heat increased to dangerous level on average 41 days.
• Due to climate change, 26 out of 29 weather events became more deadly. In these, 3700 people were killed and lakhs of people had to leave their homes.
• 15 out of 16 flood incidents occurred due to rain caused by climate change.
• El Nino storm is becoming more intense due to climate change. Due to this, weather related disasters are increasing.