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Experts have determined that the recent April heat wave in Asia, which saw temperatures soaring as high as 46°C (115°F) in some areas, was significantly more severe and likely to occur due to climate change. This extreme heat impacted hundreds of millions of people in the region, exacerbating the challenges faced by 1.7 million individuals displaced by the Gaza conflict and those lacking access to cooling. While hundreds of heat-related deaths were reported, the actual number is likely higher.
The World Weather Attribution (WWA) group utilized computer models and ground observations to analyze the impact of heat-trapping gases on the heat wave. They found that climate change made such extreme temperatures five times more likely in areas like Palestine and Israel compared to pre-industrial times, with temperatures 1.7°C hotter. In the Philippines, where temperatures were 1.2°C higher, this year's heat wave would have been impossible without decades of fossil fuel consumption.
In South Asia, abnormal heat was found to be 45 times more likely and 0.85°C higher due to climate change, based on studies from 2022 and 2023. The researchers also examined the role of El Niño but concluded it did not significantly influence the West Asian heatwave.
The economic impact of heat waves is substantial, with heat-related labor losses estimated at 650 billion hours globally per year, costing an estimated $2.1 trillion in 2017 alone. Ashish Fernandes, CEO of Climate Risk Horizons, emphasized the wide-ranging systemic impacts on the economy, including food inflation, low productivity, and unemployment, which worsen with each new heat wave.
While heat action plans are in place in countries like India, they are not sufficient to protect the most vulnerable populations from temperature stress. Jaya Dhindaw from the World Resources Institute highlighted the enormous impact of extreme heat on people in countries like India, where many lack resources to protect themselves.
Aditya Valiathan Pillai, a fellow with the Sustainable Futures Collective, noted the complexity of implementing heat action plans in India. He emphasized the need for public awareness about heat exposure risks, as well as the challenge of coordinating preparedness efforts across thousands of local governments.
Despite these challenges, Pillai suggested that if local administrations in India can work together effectively, it could lead to a resiliency framework that could serve as an example for other heat-prone nations in the developing world.