Global Heat Crisis: UN Urges Leaders Call to Take Action in the Face of ‘Extreme Heat Epidemic’

The world has sweated through historic temperatures this week – now, the United Nations is urging world leaders to take action against an ongoing climate epidemic. 

UN Call to Action

The United Nations is urging governments to take more action in preparing their populations against extreme heat as scorching temperatures continue to ravage countries around the world.

Hottest Days in History

In recent weeks the world has seen three of the hottest days in recorded history, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), with global temperatures rising to to 17.15 degrees Celsius (62.9 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 22. 

13 Hottest Months

June 2024 marked the 13th consecutive month to set year-over-year records for global temperatures, with it being the hottest June in recorded history. 

“We’re All Feeling the Heat”

“If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it’s that we’re all increasingly feeling the heat,” said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a press conference on Thursday. “Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.”

Preparing for the Future

Now, Guterres is urging governments around the world to help their vulnerable populations prepare for extreme heat, both this summer and in future summers which are likely to be as hot or hotter.

Billions Affected

He referred to the billions of people around the world who have been affected by excessive temperatures in the last few weeks – in particular, communities who cannot afford to keep cool during heatwaves.

“An Extreme Heat Epidemic”

“Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic — wilting under increasingly deadly heat waves, with temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius around the world,” he said.

A List of Effects

“Extreme heat is increasingly tearing through economies, widening inequalities, undermining the Sustainable Development Goals, and killing people.”

Calling on Governments

The UN is calling on global governments to focus on four areas that will help to protect their populations. First, by providing direct care for the most vulnerable people in their communities.

Vulnerable Groups

These vulnerable groups include families with small children, pregnant women, chronically ill people, and elders over the age of 65. These are four groups that are more vulnerable to injury from high temperatures.

Those Who Can’t Avoid It

The call to action also referred to groups who cannot so easily avoid heat, particularly low-income households, homeless individuals, and outdoor workers. 

Protections for Workers

The second key area of focus compels governments to provide more protections for workers in general. According to data from the UN’s International Labour Organization, more than 70% of the global workforce is currently at risk of injury or even death due to extreme heat. 

Science and Data

The third is a call to use legitimate scientific findings and data as the basis for protecting communities. Fourth is to commit to keeping global temperatures to the 1.5C climate threshold.

Maintaining the 1.5C Threshold

Moving beyond that threshold will lead to even more extreme heat, and thus more heat-related deaths, in the future. Reducing and eventually ending fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is the best way for governments to achieve this.

Potential to Protect Billions

“These measures could protect 3.5 billion people by 2050 while slashing emissions and saving consumers $1 trillion a year,” Guterres claimed. 

Improving Warning Systems

Improving health and safety warning systems relating to excess heat could also save close to 100,000 people across 57 countries this year alone, Guterres added. 

The World is “Not Prepared”

This recent UN report on the matter has stated that the world is “not prepared” for these record-breaking global temperatures, and the likelihood of higher temperatures in the future.

Wildfires Spreading

This can be seen in the extreme weather events and increased incidents of death and injury that have already occurred this summer and in the last year. Wildfires have been tearing across swathes of the US and Canada, and have also been reported in western and southern Europe. 

Record Death Toll in the US

In 2023 the United States reported the largest number of heat-related deaths in the last 80 years, with more than 2,300 people dying of excessive heat, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Time to “Wake Up and Step Up”

Excessive heat has been attributed to nearly 23 million workplace injuries per year, including 19,000 deaths. As the UN secretary has stated, world leaders must “wake up and step up,” to avoid countless more unnecessary deaths in the future.

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