Middle East: How prepared is it for extreme heat waves?
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In May, new research was published in the science journal, Nature Sustainability , mapping out the impact of extreme heat around the world, should global temperatures rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next 50 years. Extreme heat is classified as the average annual temperature being up around 29 degrees Celsius.
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The Lancet study also noted that demographics and the increased movement of people into cities in the Middle East will have an impact on how extreme heat affects locals. By the 2050s, almost 70% of the population is expected to be living in big cities and by 2100, older people will outnumber the young in the region.
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"There are three main types of actions that cities can, and should, take to respond to extreme heat," said Myrivili. "Raising awareness, increasing preparedness and redesigning the urban environment."
In Baghdad, local journalist al-Amiry has several suggestions for exactly that. "We need a dedicated emergency clinic for these events," she said, explaining that local authorities might let citizens know that the hospitals are full during a heat wave or sand storm but won't give them options for where else to go.
"We also need better information about extreme weather so we can prepare better — they usually only tell us one day in advance," she added. "And we need more trees planted and more green belts."
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