Climate Change Added 26 Days of Extreme Heat in Past Year

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report: Global Extreme Heatwaves

Introduction

An estimated 6.3 billion people – about 78% of the global population – experienced at least 31 days of atypical warmth, which anthropogenic climate change made at least two times more likely to occur, according to a recent study.

Findings

Human-caused climate change is boosting extreme heat around the world, affecting billions of people and threatening food and water security. A joint analysis by Climate Central, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and World Weather Attribution (WWA) identified 76 extreme heatwaves across 90 countries between May 15, 2023, and May 15, 2024.

Impact on Global South

• The affected regions include the Sahel, Horn of Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
• An estimated 6.3 billion people experienced at least 31 days of extreme heat.
• Some countries saw an excess of over 100 extreme heat days.

Climate Change Trends

2023 was recorded as the hottest year globally, with temperatures pushed off the charts by the El Niño weather pattern. The trend continued with April marking the 11th consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures.

Health Implications

• Heatwaves impact human health, especially vulnerable groups like the elderly and outdoor workers.
• Increased cardiovascular and respiratory complications, dehydration, heatstroke, and sleep deprivation are common outcomes.

Environmental Impact

Excess heat affects water and food resources, compromising terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Marine heatwaves have led to coral bleaching events, impacting marine biodiversity.

Call for Action

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies emphasizes the need for urban action to reduce heat impacts.
• The burning of fossil fuels is a significant contributor to global warming and must be addressed to mitigate climate change effects.

Conclusion

Global warming trends are alarming, with increasing heat extremes posing significant risks to human health and ecosystems. Urgent action is needed to address climate change and its impacts on society.

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## SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

### 1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

– **SDG 13: Climate Action**
– **SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being**
– **SDG 14: Life Below Water**

### 2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

– **SDG 13 Target 13.1:** Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
– **SDG 3 Target 3.9:** By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
– **SDG 14 Target 14.3:** Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.

### 3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

– Increase in extreme heat days globally.
– Rise in heat-related mortality rates.
– Impact on coral reefs due to rising ocean temperatures.

### 4. Table Presentation:

| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|————————|——————————————————————————————–|———————————————————————————————————-|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards | Increase in extreme heat days globally |
| SDG 3: Good Health | Target 3.9: Reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution | Rise in heat-related mortality rates |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water| Target 14.3: Minimize and address impacts of ocean acidification | Impact on coral reefs due to rising ocean temperatures |

Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

Fuente: earth.org

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