The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that the extreme heat in July has negatively impacted hundreds of millions of people worldwide, including communities, health, ecosystems, and economies, as it continued after a hot June.
The world’s hottest day on record was July 22, indicating the impact of human activities on climate change. WMO data shows heat waves have hit every continent in the past year, and global average temperatures have set new monthly records for 13 consecutive months from June 2023 to June 2024.
Over the past year, at least 10 countries have experienced daily temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, which is considered too hot for the body to handle.
Death Valley in California recorded an average monthly temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius at Furnace Creek, setting a record for the site and possibly the world. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) does not typically measure monthly temperature records.
Human-induced activity is primarily responsible for long-term warming trends in Antarctica, with above-average temperatures causing anomalies over 10 degrees Celsius above average in some areas and in parts of the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union states that the Southern Ocean.
WMO climate expert Alvaro Silva reports that two consecutive heat waves in Antarctica have contributed to record global temperatures, possibly related to daily sea ice extent. The Antarctic daily sea ice extent in June 2024 was the second lowest on record, following the lowest in 2023.
Portuguese President Silva highlighted the global warming caused by heat waves and extreme events, highlighting Asia’s record-breaking July temperature and Morocco’s record-breaking temperatures in Africa, which have significantly impacted human health and deaths, and highlighted the need for global action.
Heatwaves in southern and southeast Europe have caused severe health impacts and casualties. North America has also experienced severe consequences, with over 160 million people under heat alert. The urgency of the Call to Action on Extreme Heat initiative, launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is underscored by the evidence of our rapidly warming planet.
The U.N. chief warned of the increasing dangers of global warming, highlighting the need for adaptation to climate change. WMO officials emphasized the potential for global scale-up of heat-health warning systems to save 98,000 lives per year, highlighting the urgent need for global action.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the importance of enhancing heat early warning systems to provide timely alerts to at-risk populations but stressed that climate adaptation alone is insufficient; urgent reduction of greenhouse gas levels is also needed.
