Is it getting hotter where you live? You’re not alone. Temperatures have reached life-threatening highs across North America, Europe, and Asia in the last month. The combination of climate change and a developing Super El Niño — a weather pattern in which increased heat and moisture from the oceans rise into the atmosphere — means warmer, wilder weather is likely to continue.
The impacts are already impossible to ignore.
London Climate Week organizers were forced to cancel multiple events due to dangerous temperatures, including, ironically, an event focused on heat adaptation. Several World Cup host cities were hit with triple-digit temperatures, putting players and fans alike at risk. While California has seen milder weather by comparison (so far), experts are already warning of increased wildfire risk this summer and fall.
Statistically, extreme heat is the deadliest climate impact, contributing to nearly 500,000 deaths each year between 2000 and 2019. So if you are going to be outside in 100-degree weather, it’s important to stay hydrated and watch for signs of heat exhaustion. And while California has invested millions of dollars in heat preparedness in recent years, we still have work to do to keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe.
The silver lining of this latest global heat wave is that it’s spurring global climate action — including from places you might not expect.
Fifpro, the union representing players competing in the World Cup, has called attention to climate-fueled heat and spoken out about dangerous playing conditions. And multiple advocacy groups, including Fossil Free Football and Football for Future, are using this moment to engage fans in the climate movement and push teams to drop fossil fuel corporations as sponsors.
These are great examples of turning a climate disaster into an opportunity for climate progress, and one that we can build on here in California. Right now, The Climate Center is engaged in multiple policy efforts to wean the state off oil and gas and address the root cause of ever-worsening heat waves. Take action and join us today!
This blog first appeared in The Climate Center’s bi-weekly newsletter. To keep up with the latest climate news and ways to take action for a climate-safe future, subscribe today!
