The extreme temperatures are killing many thousands of people, and increasing the need for urgent action to minimise the impact of global warming.
Researchers studying the records of temperature-related deaths in 35 European countries have concluded that last year the number reached 47,690. Among the worst- affected countries were Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. Last year was the hottest in Europe on record. We await this year’s full statistics.
Two years ago, the heat in Portugal was estimated to have claimed the lives of 1,063 people in less than a fortnight between July 7 and 18, according to the Portuguese Health Ministry. These mortalities occurred during one of Portugal’s worst heat waves on record, which spiked at 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 Fahrenheit)
By mid-July this year, greater adaptability in Portugal had kept deaths due to heat at an estimated 600. Much relief has come to individuals since the introduction of the Portuguese Contingency Heat Wave Plan.
Mainland Portugal used to be regarded as having a mild Mediterranean climate. However, the number of days of extreme heat has been rising, and is projected to rise further, due to climate change. This means that the risk of increased heat-related mortality is likely to rise further unless strong counter measures are in place. The elderly and urban populations are the most vulnerable, but they are significantly helped by heat warnings and cooling advice issued by the contingency plan every year from May to September
Temperatures in the Azores archipelago are generally lower than on the mainland, but have been higher than usual throughout this summer, reaching 30 degrees Celsius this week.
Global warming is predicted to have a negative impact on the Azores in terms of precipitation as well as temperatures. Edwardo Brito de Azevedo, a climatologist at the University of the Azores, has been quoted by RTP Azores as saying, “it is necessary to adapt crops to a new reality, and review working hours.”
Air temperatures in Portugal’s other autonomous island territory, Madeira, usually do not exceed the lower 20s C , but on 27 June this year local thermometers shattered previous records and hit 30.1 degrees Celsius. This was due to the passage of a hot and dry tropical air mass, according to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere
The oceans are extremely warm worldwide at present Average temperatures have reportedly been at record levels every month since April last year. This abnormal situation is believed to be caused by a combination of climate change and El Nino, and to be fuelling hurricanes in the Atlantic.
The Earth’s overall average temperatures have risen by about 1.1 C, (nearly 34 F) per decade since 1850. The rate of warming since 1982 has been almost three times as fast:
Climate change is having both direct and indirect impacts on health issues including cardiovascular and other cardiometabolic diseases, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, reproductive and maternal health, oncology, and mental health.
Between 2030 and 2050 scientists predict that climate change will cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths each year due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress, alone.
Of course this is alarming, so each individual, and well as each community and national leader, must act as best as possible, and act now.
Written by Len Port - Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
