Climate change exposed 2 billion to more than 30 days of health-threatening temperatures

Climate Central is set to release a new report, revealing that one in four people on the planet experienced climate change-driven temperatures every day in June, July, and August because of the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas, and coal, and human activities.

 

Between June and August, 2 billion people were exposed to more than 30 days of health-threatening temperatures strongly influenced by climate change.

 

Human-induced heat worsened drought conditions all over the world, including in Russia, China, Italy and Ghana, leading to crop failures, prompting governments to declare emergency measures, and resulting in export bans.

 

72 countries experienced their hottest summer since at least 1970, significantly driven by climate change. 180 cities in the Northern Hemisphere experienced at least one extreme heatwave from June to August. These heatwaves are, on average, 21 times more likely today because of carbon pollution, mainly caused by burning coal, oil and gas.

 

“High temperatures that were clearly influenced by climate change jeopardized the health of billions around the world during the past three months,” said Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central. “No region, country, or city is safe from the deadly threats posed by burning fossil fuels.”

 

Using Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index, this new analysis quantifies the impact of climate change on temperatures and estimates the number of people affected by these extreme conditions. It provides detailed data on heat exposure at global, regional, local levels, and in about 1,200 cities.

 

To estimate the risks of heat to human health, researchers looked at days in which temperatures were significantly hotter than the historical record — the “risky heat” days. Temperatures on these days are hotter than 90% of temperatures observed in a local area over the 1991-2020 period — this represents a minimum mortality threshold at which heat-related health risks climb statistically.

 

Key Findings:

 

Over 2 billion people (25% of the global population) experienced 30 or more days of risky heat that were made at least three times more likely by climate change.

 

More than 4 billion people faced unusual temperatures made at least three times more likely by climate change on August 13, the peak of the global heat.

 

During this record-breaking season, when 72 countries broke their heat record for the June-August period, few urban areas escaped the impacts of carbon pollution, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

 

The average person experienced 17 extra days of “risky heat” around the world because of climate change, representing a potential risk to global health.

 

Climate Central is a non-advocacy, non-profit science and news organization providing authoritative information to help the public and policymakers make sound decisions about climate and energy.

COP 29: African common position on climate finance and more endorsed by environment ministers

The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) has adopted the African common position, highlighting the continent’s key priorities for the upcoming 29^th session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

 

The 10^th special session of AMCEN, an annual gathering to discuss and strengthen environmental governance, was held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, under the theme: “Raising Africa’s Ambition to Reduce Land Degradation, Desertification, and Drought.”

 

A key agenda of AMCEN over the years is the African common position on climate change negotiations—a declaration containing key priorities and messages in the various themes of the climate negotiation process. 

 

The need to unlock climate finance has, for years, dominated the discussions for Africa, and it was equally the case at this year’s session, at which the importance of climate finance was highlighted and reiterated. 

 

It was reported that despite African countries submitting ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the UNFCCC, there has not been corresponding support for their implementation. To achieve their NDCs, African countries need an estimated US$2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030.

 

“The continent has been warming at a faster rate than the global average. From Algeria to Zambia, climate-driven disasters are getting worse, inflicting the most suffering on those who did least to cause them. In Africa, as in all regions, the climate crisis is an economic sinkhole, sucking the momentum out of economic growth. In fact, many African nations are losing up to 5% of GDP as a result of climate impacts,” observed Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

 

Ahead of COP29, the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) is prioritising the need for ambitious climate finance outcomes, said AGN Chair, Ali Mohamed, in his presentation on Africa’s priorities.

 

“We are particularly focusing on an ambitious New Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) outcome that is based on evolving needs as reflected in developing countries’ NDCs, National Adaptation Plans, and other national climate planning and programming instruments.

 

“Our position includes; a quantum of $1.3trillion per annum by 2030; quality of finance that is informed by criteria including debt sustainability, cost of borrowing, and significantly from public sources, thus emphasizing grant and highly concessional finance; and transparent mechanisms in respect of accountability,” he said.  

 

The adopted AMCEN climate change decision further highlights the importance of adaptation to Africa, in the context of its well-known vulnerabilities to climate change, particularly in climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water, with cascading effects into the health sector.  

 

“As highlighted in the 2023 State of Climate Report in Africa, the continent remains on the front lines of fighting climate change and its impacts; from rising temperatures to shifting rainfall patterns, and other extreme weather events,” noted the AGN Chair.

 

“As a consequence, key sectors such as agriculture, water and health are in dire straits. Crumbling agricultural productivity and production due to either droughts or floods, water scarcity and rising temperatures are not only causing food insecurity but also leading to serious health challenges for the people. Both health and climate experts keep highlighting nutrition-related challenges, heat stress, occurrence and increase of certain infectious diseases such as malaria and waterborne illnesses, among others. A deeper understanding on this nexus is a must for effective adaptation”. 

 

Other key priorities for Africa contained in the adopted common position include; the call for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund to support African countries in coping with the irreversible impacts of climate change and aid in the recovery of affected communities; equitable just transition in the context of Africa’s unique needs and development circumstances; the need to launch work on Africa’s special needs and special circumstances recognising Africa’s vulnerability; and finalisation of rules for carbon markets that are robust and deliver environmental integrity and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.  

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Climate Change: Aggressive land use and agriculture to accelerate greenhouse gas emissions in West Africa

Greenhouse gas emissions in West Africa are expected to be accelerated by growing population, intensive agriculture and other aggressive land use changes.

 

Thus according to a new study, “Greenhouse Gas Determination in West Africa Agricultural Landscapes” (GreenGaDe) project, which shows the effects of increased emissions will contribute to heat-related health illnesses, influence climate change and impact on food production.

               

The project is embedded in the trans-disciplinary West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted land Use (WASCAL) and funded by the German Federal Minister of Education and Research (BMBF).

 

The study, conducted by scientists from Germany, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger, focused on the emission of primary greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that contribute to global warming.

 

These gases absorb long-wave radiation hindering the heat from escaping into outer space, ultimately causing global warming and climate change. The effects of this phenomenon have become pronounced with population growth and agricultural expansion.

 

The researchers sought to inform climate adaptation policies and promote climate-smart agriculture among smallholder farmers, who are being admonished to set up tree canopies to preserve carbon pools in soil and vegetation.

 

“Forests in agricultural ecological systems are important. They facilitate carbon storage, mitigating the impact of climate change, and the like. In the future climate change will be more severe and I would encourage farmers to look into the future and improve their carbon field by developing more tree canopies,” said Prof. Anja Linstaedter, Consortium Principal Investigators of the GreenGaDe Project.

 

Food production systems are responsible for 19-29% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In developing countries, 90% of the emissions originate from agriculture and deforestation. But it is not known how much greenhouse gasses are released by different agricultural systems and management practices.

 

The GreenGaDe project has the goal of providing policymakers and managers with data and predictions to serve as a clear basis for decision-making.

 

The study aims to quantify carbon pool dynamics and GHG emitted under different land use practices, and to improve stakeholders' understanding of GHG dynamics in the West African region.

 

A stakeholders’ workshop in West Africa’s agricultural landscapes explored stronger collaborations to improve agriculture and climate related issues.

 

“Nitrous oxide emissions occur mostly through agricultural activities associated with increased use of synthetic fertilizers, deposition of animal excreta (urine and dung), disproportionate application of manure to farmlands, and inefficient use of irrigation water,” said Dr. Reginald Guuroh, principal investigator for the Ghana project team.

 

“One aspect is the engagement of farmers, testing their practices and their knowledge. And farmers have been educated and waiting on the adoption of climate-smart adoptions. And our partners have been very helpful in finding results,” he said.

 

Specialists from agronomy, forestry, modelling, environmental chemistry and monitoring and sociology from Germany and three West African countries worked on the project, examining and comparing different agro-ecosystems in West Africa, including forests, open savannahs, pastures and fields.

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh