United Nations Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat
Introduction
- Context: The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a global call to action on extreme heat.
- Impact: Extreme heat is deadly and disrupts economies and societies. Between 2000 and 2019, approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred each year, with significant impacts in Asia and Europe.
- Economic Impact: Heat exposure results in labor capacity loss, equivalent to $863 billion in potential income losses in 2022.
Current Situation
- Recent Events: Over the past 100 days, heat-related deaths were reported in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the United States.
- Climate Crisis: June 2024 was the 13th consecutive month to break global temperature records, and it is increasingly likely that 2024 will be one of the hottest years in recorded history.
- Data Sources: Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), and World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Key Vulnerabilities
- Global Workforce: Over 70% of the global workforce—2.4 billion people—are at high risk of extreme heat, leading to 22.8 million injuries and 18,970 deaths annually.
- Regional Impact: In Africa, the Arab states, and Asia and the Asia-Pacific, 93%, 84%, and 75% of the workforce are affected by excessive heat.
- Labor Productivity: Daily temperatures above 34°C (93.2°F) result in a 50% drop in labor productivity.
Opportunities for Mitigation
- Occupational Safety and Health: Measures could save $361 billion annually.
- Heat Action Plans: Early warning and response systems are effective adaptation options.
- Triple Strategy: Passive cooling, higher energy efficiency, and phasing down of climate-warming refrigerants could benefit 3.5 billion people by 2050.
- Economic Benefits: Reducing energy demand in the cooling sector could save populations $1 trillion and the power sector up to $5 trillion by 2050.
Global Response
- Mobilization: The UN aims to mobilize global heat, health, and policy experts to address heat risk.
- Actions: Concrete measures to ease suffering, increase resilience, manage crises, and mitigate impacts.
- Data and Science: Collecting the latest data and science on extreme heat to build resilience and save lives.
Scientific Evidence
- Frequency and Intensity: Heatwaves and prolonged periods of excess heat are increasing in frequency, duration, intensity, and magnitude due to climate change.
- Global Trends: The year 2023 was the warmest on record, and this trend continued into 2024 with June marking the 13th consecutive month of record global temperatures.
Conclusion
- Call to Action: The world must take bold decisions to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and avoid an even more dangerous future.
- Quote: "The world must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures." — António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General.