BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — AS the world continues to endure extreme heat, there is growing urgency for developed nations to curb their greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported that July 22, 2024, was the hottest day ever recorded. NASA has confirmed this finding, noting that July 21 and July 23 of this year also surpassed previous temperature records set in July 2023. “These record-breaking temperatures are part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases,” said a NASA said in a statement.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson remarked, “In a year that has been the hottest on record, these past two weeks have been particularly brutal.”
Clare Nullis of the WMO highlighted during a press conference that extreme heat has affected hundreds of millions of people throughout July, creating widespread societal impacts.
“This is another stark indication of how human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are altering our climate,” Nullis said. “Global average temperatures have set new monthly records for 13 consecutive months, from June 2023 to June 2024. Data for July, based on WMO-recognized datasets, will confirm whether this exceptional trend continues for another month. This underscores the urgency of the Call to Action on Extreme Heat issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned that ‘Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.’”
Heatwaves have been severe and persistent across all continents over the past year. At least ten countries, Nullis noted, have recorded temperatures exceeding 50°C in multiple locations. Death Valley in California set a new record with an average monthly temperature of 42.5°C, possibly the highest ever recorded globally. Even Antarctica's remote ice sheets have been affected by the heat.
Nullis emphasized the importance of adaptation. Recent estimates from the WMO and the World Health Organization suggest that scaling up heat health-warning systems in 57 countries could potentially save around 98,000 lives annually, aligning with the Early Warnings For All initiative. However, adaptation alone is insufficient; addressing the root causes of climate change remains critical.
