With heat waves forecast for March-May in India, climate scientists are worried about an increased possibility of deaths if human body temperatures exceed the “wet bulb” threshold of 35°C.
This report aims to support the process of refinement of heat action plans (HAPs) by conducting a critical review of heat action plans in India. They analysed 37 heat action plans at the city (9), district (13) and state (15) levels across 18 states.
Despite all of the recent rain in California, the Los Angeles region still faces the effects of the megadrought.The combination of droughts and high temperatures are especially damaging to trees, which can play a key role in moderating extreme heat.
Global warming has led to higher summer temperatures across Sydney over the past 30 years. However, data analysis shows very hot summer days are becoming much more common in Western Sydney than in coastal Sydney.
A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found drought and heat waves could make air pollution worse for communities that already have a high pollution burden in California, and deepen pollution inequalities along racial and ethnic lines
While heatwaves and hot weather do not cause significant damage to the landscape similar to cyclones and earthquakes, the impacts of heatwaves on health, economic productivity, and the environment can nonetheless be serious and costly.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Asia and Pacific