The UN Secretary-General António Guterres today called on governments to take specific actions to save lives, stating that humanity is a victim of an “epidemic of extreme heat,” which it has caused itself. This “invisible killer” is responsible for nearly 489,000 deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, compared to 16,000 deaths annually from cyclones.
According to the European Copernicus network, July 21, 22, and 23 were the three hottest days ever recorded globally, with July 22 holding the absolute record with an average temperature of 17.16°C, according to updated data.
“But let’s face the reality: extreme temperatures are no longer a phenomenon of a single day, week, or month. If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it is that we are increasingly warming up,” António Guterres said while presenting his “call to action against extreme heat.”
“Billion of people are facing an epidemic of extreme heat, being scorched by increasingly deadly heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius,” he added, also reminding of the deaths of over 1,000 pilgrims during the major Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in June.
Thus, “the world needs to rise to the challenge of rising temperatures.”
While 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded and 2024 may break a new record, temperatures well above 40°C are becoming increasingly common.
Within a year, the 50°C threshold has already been surpassed in at least 10 locations, from Death Valley in the United States (53.9°C on July 7, 2024) to Agadir in Morocco, China, and India.
This intense heat, often less visible compared to other catastrophic effects of climate change such as storms or floods, is, however, more deadly.
This “invisible killer” is responsible for nearly 489,000 deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, compared to 16,000 deaths annually from cyclones, according to the “call to action” presented by Guterres.
How Heat Affects the Economy
According to a report by the International Labour Organization released today, more than 70% of workers were exposed to excessive heat in 2020, 8.8% more compared to 2000.
And worker productivity decreased due to heat (from 50% at 34°C), which equates to 80 million full-time jobs potentially lost by 2030, according to the UN.
However, “the good news is that we can save lives and limit the impacts,” Guterres emphasized.
The UN chief primarily calls for the protection of the “most vulnerable,” including children, the elderly, the poorest, and urban dwellers who are further scorched by the concrete.
In this context, early warning systems should include extreme heat, alerting populations to the arrival of heatwaves and informing them of the precautions they need to take.
Cooling systems, often inaccessible to the poorest, should also be reviewed. If the current trend continues, cooling equipment is expected to nearly triple by 2050.
Therefore, the Secretary-General recommends investing in a “triple strategy,” including passive cooling (using nature, architectural design, smart buildings, instead of traditional air conditioning), improving the energy efficiency of buildings and cooling facilities, and phasing out refrigerant gases that contribute to global warming.
He also calls for better protection for workers across all sectors and regions, based on a human rights approach. He supports their right to leave work when temperatures are too dangerous.
“And let us not forget that there are many other devastating symptoms of the climate crisis: more violent hurricanes, floods, droughts, fires, rising sea levels, and the list goes on.”
“To combat these symptoms, we must fight the disease,” Guterres stressed, who continues to call for greater action to hope to limit warming to +1.5°C compared to pre-industrial times.
“The disease is the madness of setting fire to our only home. Madness is dependent on fossil fuels. The disease is inertia on climate. Governments must therefore act immediately,” he emphasized.
