The Era of Global Boiling has Arrived: 2023

 

Rising temperatures across the world, weather changes, insecurity of food and water, sea levels rising, economic disruption, terrorism, environmental degradation, melting of the Arctic circle and coral reefs dying are some of the leading reasons why the Earth is facing a major climate crisis. As a result of which it is only, we humans are facing the consequences such as heat waves, droughts, coastal storms, fires, superstorms, typhoons, diminishing sea ice, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, dust storms, stress to ecosystems, etc.

 

One of the main reasons for the climate crisis is global warming across the world. Besides this, burning fossil fuel cutting down forests and farming livestock are influencing the climate and the temperature on Earth. These are very severe consequences of this climate change across the world. Not only are our oceans dying but greenhouse gases are at an all-time high. Climate change is not only creating a refugee crisis but over 1 million species face extinction. It is alarming to know that climate change itself could be irreversible by 2030!

 

Although we cannot stop global warming overnight, we can definitely slow the rate down and limit the amount of global warming by reducing human emissions of ‘heat-trapping’ gases and soot (black carbon).

 

Some of the countries which are at risk of climate change include Somalia, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Chad, South Sudan and Nigeria.  

 

Just in 2023 itself, extreme weather events and climate changes are already hitting the headlines!   

                        

Unbearable heatwaves across Asia, the US and Europe, wildfires in Canada and Chile, powerful ice storms in the Southern United States, Monsoon Flooding in India and a record-breaking cyclone in south-eastern Africa; there are many changes occurring across the world with respect to climate change.

 

Beginning in April 2023, a record-breaking heat wave affected many Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and China. Sizzling temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius have been recorded in parts of India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Laos. Causing widespread hospitalisations, damaged roads, sparked fires and closure of schools, all of which are affecting the daily quality of living a good life. 

This heat wave (April-May 2023) – a once-in-200 years occurrence came off guard and is claimed to be the most brutal never-ending heat wave, that has even continued on till June. With temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius, it has hit the informal economy workers the most. These include street vendors, cleaners, builders, farmers and drivers.

 However, the hottest countries in Asia are Israel and the United Arab Emirates. While the climate is characterised by hot summers and mild winters, Israel’s climate is heating up at double the global average where heatwaves could peak at a blistering 50 degrees Celsius. Besides this, other Mediterranean countries are also set for heatwaves. The UAE is also suffering from extremes of heat with temperatures soaring to 50 Degrees Celsius!

 

In India, three states recorded heatwaves just this year, right from March and the number of states has gone up to 11! In fact, India’s heat waves have taken a huge toll on the most vulnerable – making labourers feel as if they are in a hot oven.  

With the onset of the Monsoon, India’s battle against extreme weather is also facing the wrath of the incessant and torrential rains across the country!

   

On the other side of the globe, beginning right from March 2023 with an increased intensity beginning in June, Canada has been severely affected by an ongoing, record-setting series of wildfires. With harsh weather conditions fuelling the fires, it is becoming increasingly difficult for firefighters to combat the flames. With most of the wildfires raging in British Columbia and Alberta. The intensity of the smoke from the fires is so much that it has also engulfed New York skies! As of July 17^th, there were still 907 active wildfires, out of which 599 were out of control.        

 

In the eastern hemisphere, Cyclone Mocha- a powerful cyclone hit the coastlines of Bangladesh and Myanmar in May 2023. Its 250 kilometres per hour winds have been tearing through low-lying shelters along the Bay of Bengal. Not only has it caused flooding in the area but also damage to millions of people along its path. According to the UN, the storm has impacted 800,000 people overall!

As of the beginning of May, parts of northern Italy have been impacted by severe flooding and landslides. These rains have come after months of drought, which is another example of extreme weather conditions. The severe drought in Italy has only jeopardised water supplies for household use and agriculture and energy production. Spanning 6 days, (from May 1st to 17th May 2023) there was a series of floods affecting Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Faenza, Ravenna, and Rimini, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. This has triggered landslides also and killed 14 people, having 36,000 residents being evacuated and 23,000 not being able to return to their houses. 

 In the northeastern part of Africa, South Sudan, severe climate changes such as record-breaking droughts, floods and extreme heat waves have caused a lot of internal displacement in the Global South.  Battling its fourth year of historic flooding, it has impacted one million citizens and submerged entire villages. Occurring from May to October 2022 (the rainy season), the floods in Sudan have exceeded the figure for 2021 and right now have experienced four years of flooding. Displaced families, severe damage to camps for refugees and internally displaced people, and destroyed roads, schools and houses have it is only a mere dream for life to return back to normal. In addition to all of this, there is poverty, rising food and energy prices which have to be dealt with.

                        

Being one of the deadliest storms to cross the southern Indian Ocean for over 5 weeks, from February to March 2023, Cyclone Freddy has been the longest-lasting and highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) producing tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide. Affecting over 1.5 million people in Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the storm started on 5^th February 2023 and lasted till 14^th March 2023 lasting for 5 weeks and 2 days.  

 With plenty of other extreme climatic changes in Rwanda, Sau Paulo, Chile, Texas and MANY other places across the world, extreme weather changes are REALLY posing a major threat to human health and well-being.