Heat is certainly in the news every day recently and it will stay that way for longer heat seasons each year, all over the world, both in the present and future. Heat and the effects of too much heat are things we must “Learn to live with”, while we also address climate change.
WE, the adult generations alive now, must address climate change as fast as we can, so that future generations will also be able to live. Too much heat is deadly for the oceans, the land, and for all creatures and plants that have evolved to survive within their usual climactic territories. Even now, FEMA says that, “extreme heat often results in the highest annual number of deaths among all weather-related disasters.”
My novel, “A Tree for Antarctica,” shows in story form some of the ways people may try to deal with heat in the future, as well as the sea level rise that will occur if we do not stop the greatest cause of our rising temperatures around the world: Man Made Carbon and Methane emissions. Getting rid of these will unnatural emissions will require deploying more known and usable technologies, newer technologies, and even some fuel sources that are still in the research or ramp-up stages of usefulness. Nuclear Power, now extremely safe, should also be used as a transitional source, as it has proven to be safe and effective in Europe. Much has been done with handling nuclear power since the 3mile Island scare decades back. It is no longer the same industry at all.
This blog post will include a lot of links to other more detailed articles about heat, the dangers of too much heat, and how to handle high heat conditions – along with its companion scourge for remaining healthy, high humidity. There will also be links to lists and charts of what we can do to protect both ourselves and our families from heat-related illnesses, as well as how to protect the planet from overwarming for future generations. All links will be at the end of this blog post.
Heat index is a better way than air temp to know both how hot it will feel and how dangerous it might be, combining both temperature and humidity in one number. Humidity prevents sweat from drying, which is one of our best cooling devices. Carrying around a plain old fashioned foldup fan can really help. And parasols should have a comeback – they really work! I just ordered a new one for $35 – a nicer look than a rain umbrella, but those will work , too.
Everyone probably knows that the disabled, elderly and babies are most at risk from heat. But so are all-ages of children playing outside, and athletes at practice or games. They and their coaches must be taught to drink a lot of cool water and be aware of early signs of heat distress, which will be listed in a link below. School athletics starting in August are often in the hottest parts of the country, and that presents a special risk. Remember to keep your pets cool on walks, too!
Now, about keeping the whole planet cool enough: Try running your interior AC 2 two degrees above what you are used to now. Can you get to being comfortable with that? I personally do not like any heat at all, but have tried this, and it is OK. It can work at night, too, if you only cover with a sheet, or run a small fan to circulate air. In winter, try the same thing in opposite directions. Get your office/work place to allow cool, lighter clothing in summer. Ditch the suit jackets, etc. Try washing your hair and let it air dry, unless needing a special coif one special day. There are many more ideas in the links! Some links come from places where people truly KNOW hot weather, such as Las Vegas and Western Australia. Also, remember: Doing Anything to reduce carbon emissions is a help for Mother Nature.
I hope you will all find a cool way to enjoy what is left of summer, and stay safe!
This article below from Covering Climate now, one of our book grant recipients, is a recommended read.
Do We Finally Get It Now?
Deadly heat across Europe shattering temperature records. Firefighters battling intense wildfires across Southern Europe and the US. One hundred million Americans under heat warnings and advisories. A heatwave on the horizon for central Asia. The world is consumed by extreme heat driven by climate change, which is unfolding faster than expected and leaving climate scientists shocked.
These breathtaking events led the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to warn on Monday that humanity is facing “collective suicide” if we “continue to feed our fossil fuel addiction.” US president Joe Biden on Wednesday said that “climate change is an emergency,” though he did not formally declare climate change a national emergency.
As the media scrambled to report on extreme heat this week, they did a better job at conveying what the science says — that this is climate change in action — than has historically been the case. But many stories missed making the climate connection. Some 32% of segments and weather reports on US national TV networks, from July 16 to 18, connected the heat to climate change, according to Media Matters. That’s a big increase from last summer, when only 4% of network stories about Hurricane Irma mentioned climate change. Still, the 32% figure means that two out of three heat stories missed the point.
The portrayal of extreme heat by some in the media as “fun in the sun,” rather than the climate disaster that it is, led to protests this week in the UK. On Tuesday, Extinction Rebellion protesters smashed windows at the London headquarters of Rupert Murdoch’s media company for his outlets’ coverage of the crisis as an upbeat story.
Other news outlets are getting the story right. Here are some helpful takeaways:
Alex Thomson of Channel 4 News in the UK makes the climate connection and reflects its urgency high up in his report on the European heatwave. He says, “Remember that this isn’t weather that happened, it was caused by human pollution. Unless we respond, there will be more of this, and more often. That is science, not politics.” His linkage to human-caused climate change, the urgency of responding, and the scientific consensus on climate change in just a few words make his story a perfect example of how to report climate and extreme weather.
Emily Shapiro of ABC News in the US, goes beyond what temperatures are forecast to include the expected heat index as well. Scientists say the heat index — what the temperature, when combined with humidity, feels like to the human body — is a better indicator of the intensity of heat and its health impacts. Including it helps audiences know what to expect.
Bob Henson’s story for Yale Climate Communication stands out for its use of appropriate climate imagery — a bridge in London swaddled in aluminum foil to protect it from the heat — to convey the seriousness of the heatwave. In addition, when referring to the 2003 European heatwave in his story, Henson includes the correct death toll, which many news organizations have not. Attribution science, which quantifies climate change’s role in extreme weather, concludes that 70,000 people died from extreme heat in 2003 as a result of climate change. Check sources such as World Weather Attribution, Climate Signals, and Climate Central’s “Climate Shift Index” for the latest attribution science.