Extreme heatwaves have hit countries around the world in the past few weeks including those in Southern Europe, the USA and China, where a temperature of 52 degrees was recorded. In the UK the Met Office reported that the record breaking 40 degree temperatures experienced in 2022 will become normal by 2060. How we prepare for these increasing temperatures, as well as understanding their impacts is becoming increasingly more urgent.
Record temperatures
In July, in the Mediterranean officials warned residents and tourists to stay indoors, hydrate and wear masks to protect themselves from smoke from the fires. In Cyprus, an elderly man has been reported to have died whilst speaking to heat authorities on the phone and six other elderly people were hospitalised. Such heat stress related incidents are likely to severely impact vulnerable and marginalised groups.
IDS researcher Dr Nausheen H. Anwar is an urban planner in the with expertise on the intersections of urban studies, geography, anthropology and political ecology. She has been studying heat and disaster risk management.
Commenting on the recent heatwaves, Nausheen Anwar said:
“Today in Southern Europe, heatwave preparedness is one of the most important challenges. Heatwaves are expected to happen every other year by the end of the 21st century, with corresponding consequences for human heat exposure.
“Even though it is well established that sustained extreme temperatures become hazardous, particularly for the very young and elderly or those suffering from heart conditions, high blood pressure, or asthma, more attention needs to be paid to determine the effects of heatwaves on migrant-refugees.
“Migrants-refugees are confronted with different climatic environments in Southern Europe, finding themselves in camps, migration centres, dormitories, private flats, in informal settlements and ‘squats’.
“These might be thermally inadequate environments, with limited or no access to critical infrastructures that are needed for cooling such as ventilation, shade, electricity, fans or air conditioning. This makes vulnerable populations susceptible to heat stress risks which can result in reduced cognitive and physical performance and in certain circumstances, serious clinical disease or death.”
Read Nausheen’s work on heatwaves and COVID-19
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