The world is going through a severe heat Pandemic: Guterres

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world is suffering from an ‘extreme heat pandemic’. At the same time, he called for steps to be taken to curb the heat waves that have increased due to climate change.

On August 07, 2024, Guterres said, “Hundreds of millions of people are facing a severe Pandemic.” They have to suffer from the deadly heat wave which is increasing day by day.

The temperature has exceeded 50 degrees Celsius in different parts of the world. It is half of the temperature at which water begins to boil.’

The European Copernicus Network data shows that July 21, 22, and 23 of this year were the hottest days on record globally.

António Guterres said, “Today we are looking at an intense heat wave. But it must not be forgotten that the climate crisis has far more devastating effects. Such as more intense cyclones, floods, droughts, wildfires, sea level rise and many more.’

Calling on the G20 countries to take action to curb this crisis, Guterres said, “We have to fight against diseases to deal with the effects of climate change.” That disease is to burn our only abode, the earth. The disease is our addiction to fossil fuels.

We cannot remain idle while the climate crisis persists. Cording to the United Nations, 2023 was the hottest year in earth’s history. There are still several months left in 2024. So, the previous year’s record may be broken this year.

From 2000 to 2019, an average of 489,000 people died each year due to heat waves, while 16,000 people died in cyclones every year.

Rising temperatures also have economic implications. According to UN data, 70 percent of the world’s workers were at risk of working in extreme temperatures in 2020, up 8.8 percent from 2000. And due to intense heat, economic losses in the world will reach 2.4 trillion dollars by 2023.