United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has highlighted the dangers of extreme heat phenomena that are increasing in many countries. It is a concern because it kills almost half a million people every year.
“Heat weather is estimated to kill almost half a million people a year, about 30 times more than tropical cyclones,” Guterres said.
He called extreme heat a new abnormality that is actually triggered by human behavior itself. The use of fossil fuels and the burning of forests and land are some of the main triggers.
“We know what’s driving it, human-caused climate change and fossil fuel use. We know it’s going to get worse going forward,” he said.
The UN also launched a global demand with four focus areas, namely caring for the most vulnerable, increasing protection for workers, increasing economic resilience and
society by using data and science.
“But let’s not forget that there are many more devastating symptoms of the climate crisis: more powerful storms, floods, droughts, wildfires, rising sea levels, and much more,” Guterres added.
To address these symptoms, the world must reduce the use of fossil fuels. The G20 must shift fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy and support vulnerable countries and communities.
“The message is clear, the heat is happening. Extreme heat is having extreme impacts on people and the planet. The world must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures with steps we already know,” he said. (Z-11)
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