Extreme Weather Impacting Ecosystem, Human Health, Economies: UN

News Desk

United Nations: The extreme weather–an increasingly frequent occurrence in our warming climate–is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy, and water supplies, stated World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Secretary General Petteri Taalas.

According to the WMO, June witnessed the warmest global average temperature on record and heatwaves have persisted into early July.

Intense heat is gripping large parts of the Northern hemisphere, while heavy precipitation has caused devastating floods resulting in loss of life and affecting millions in several other regions of the world, including the United States, Japan, China, Pakistan and India.

Heatwaves are among the deadliest natural hazards that kill thousands of people each year.

Intense heat grips large parts of Northern hemisphere, whilst heavy precipitation has caused devastating floods and loss of life.
New #StateofClimate roundup of extreme weather in July at https://t.co/tKrqBI6COf
Map @CopernicusECMWF pic.twitter.com/jihspkcuhB

— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) July 13, 2023

“As the planet warms, the expectation is that we will see more and more intense, more frequent, and more severe rainfall events, leading also to more severe flooding,” said WMO Director of Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere Stefan Uhlenbrook.

Elevated temperatures raise the risk of forest fires, as seen recently in Canada, which lost over nine million hectares of forests in 2023, far surpassing the 10-year average of about 800,000 hectares. The resulting pollution and haze spread across much of the northeastern United States, impacting the health of millions.

A widespread heatwave is intensifying in the southern United States, with high temperatures likely in numerous places, according to the US National Weather Service, which says a few locations could even register all-time temperature records.

Meanwhile, the northeastern US, including New York State and New England, has seen deadly torrential rains. New York issued a flash flood emergency, and more than four million people were under flood alerts on July 11.

Floods in northwest China are claimed to have killed 15 people and in northern India, strong monsoon rains and flooding caused highways, bridges and buildings to be swept away, killing dozens of people.

Millions of people are impacted, and the annual cost of extreme weather disasters like floods, heat waves, and droughts is in the billions.

The UN agency also emphasised that low-income nations continue to be vulnerable despite developed countries’ higher degree of preparedness, such as warnings and control of floods.

Uhlenbrook pointed out that developed countries like Japan are extremely alert and they’re also very well prepared when it comes to flood management measures. But many low-income countries have no warnings in place, hardly any flood defence structures, and no integrated flood management. WMO is committed to improving the situation, he added.