Baking heatwaves this July raise health, economic risks

Following the hottest June on record, July continues to shatter temperature records globally, bringing serious economic and health impacts.

"Extreme heat is increasingly tearing through economies, widening inequalities, undermining the Sustainable Development Goals and killing people," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.

July 22 marked the world's hottest day ever recorded, according to the latest Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data. Additionally, the three days from July 21 onward were successively hotter than Earth's previous record set in 2023.

It is remarkable that this record was broken in 2024 during the neutral phase of El Nino-Southern Oscillation, which usually warms the Eastern Pacific.

Intense heatwaves have escalated health, fire and economic risks. There were nearly half a million heat-related deaths a year worldwide, far more than deaths caused by other weather extremes such as hurricanes, and this is likely an underestimate, said a new report by 10 UN agencies.

In this month so far, multiple heat-related deaths have been reported around the world. In Albania, temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius caused at least one death. Italy reported at least five heat-related deaths on July 12 and 13, which prompted the country's health ministry to place 12 major cities under heat warnings. Pakistan reported over 16 heat-related deaths in Karachi in mid-July.

The heat has also exacerbated health issues, with nearly 20 million Americans reporting weather as a major headache trigger.

Record-breaking temperatures and persistently dry conditions create an environment conducive to rapid fire spread, which escalates fire risks.

In Bulgaria, wildfires were raging at several sites, destroying farmlands, forests and vegetation.

In the United States, large areas in the states of California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah are under excessive heat warnings. The heatwave has elevated the risk of wildfires across the western U.S. Mid-July saw 19 active wildfire incidents in California, which started on July 5 and burned over 137 square kilometers of land.

In addition to health and wildfire concerns, heatwaves have global social impacts.

"Extreme heat amplifies inequality, inflames food insecurity and pushes people further into poverty," Guterres said.

Potential food security crises occur. Japan's dangerous heatwave is expected to continue into August and possibly September, posing risks not only to health, but to agriculture and food safety.

In Indonesia, President Joko Widodo warned that the country would face heatwaves and drought from July to October, potentially putting 19.7 to 45 million people at risk of hunger.

Every month, since June 2023, has ranked as the planet's hottest since records began, marking 13 consecutive months of record-breaking temperatures, and this seems to be an ongoing trend.

(With input from Xinhua)