Surge in days over 35 degrees Celsius recorded in world's scorching capitals

The number of days reaching a sizzling 35 degrees Celsius in 20 of the world's largest capitals, from Delhi to Jakarta to Buenos Aires, has risen 52 percent over the past three decades, a think tank analysis found on Friday.

More than 300 million people live in the world's 20 most populous capital cities, where they are uniquely vulnerable to rising temperatures fueled by climate change, as asphalt and buildings absorb and retain heat.

Capital cities including Delhi, Dhaka and Manila this year have been plagued by dangerous heat waves, leading to a spate of heat-related deaths and school closures.

Delhi alone documented its longest and most severe heat wave in 74 years, registering 39 consecutive days with maximum temperatures at or above 40 degrees Celsius from May 14 to June 21, according to weather station data.

Now, an analysis by the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), quantifies the growing threat of extreme heat in some of the world's largest urban centers.

Using surface temperature data from airport weather stations, the researchers found that from 2014 to 2023, there were nearly 6,500 cumulative days, or instances, when one of the 20 cities reached temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher. In the decade from 1994 to 2003, there were just 4,755.

"We know that hot weather is not felt evenly across cities," said Tucker Landesman, a researcher with IIED. "Pockets of extreme heat are more likely in certain types of neighborhoods and commercial districts. This is tied to inequality and how we design buildings and public infrastructure."

Indonesia's Jakarta experienced the greatest absolute rise in the number of days over 35 degrees Celsius, from 28 days between 1994 and 2003 to 167 in the most recent decade.

Seoul, South Korea, went from nine days to 58, while Buenos Aires went from seven days to 35.