Last year he planet broke all existing temperature recordsthe cities they became real ovens with extreme spikes.
The outlook is not promising: a Nature investigation predicts that the next century many areas of the Earth will surpass temperature records year after year, which will lead to the displacement of communities to other areas where they can protect themselves from heat waves.
If we go back in history, there is no period in the last 2 thousand years in which global temperature changes have happened with so much immediacy.
He extreme heat is a consequence of climate change that threatens public health and the biodiversity loss. TO higher temperature will be added major weather eventsthe increase in vectors that transmit diseases, air pollution and impacts on water supplies for growing food, putting food security at risk.
We are already living it in Sinaloa and in Mexicothe high temperatures recorded in recent weeks and the drought They have come together to warn us that, if we do not take action, the future will be devastating.
Heat waves in different states in the south of the country are impacting the population of communities where it is unusual for temperatures to rise, generating health problems that in some cases have been fatal. Experts continue to warn that heat waves like the ones we are experiencing will become more frequent.
Given these circumstances, there is a high demand for air conditioning, however, while we use this technology to mitigate the heat we are also warming the planet.
Just to share a fact, by 2050 emissions from the use of air conditioning and refrigeration will increase 90 percent from 2017 levels. This increase would result in the emission of 12 gigatons of carbon dioxide (GtCO2), which equivalent to a third of total emissions in 2017.
Scientists propose that if we manage to limit warming to 1.5 °C instead of 2 °C, it would reduce the number of millions of people exposed to extreme and exceptional heat waves.
Unfortunately, we are moving away from the Paris Agreement target to limit this increase and are on track for 3°C warming this century.
Forest fires, our dams and rivers arid due to lack of water paint a gloomy scenario, but nature continues to offer us some of the most viable solutions: the protection of our forests and carbon reserves, the restoration of hydrological basins, the Mass reforestation of our cities and the reduction of polluting gas emissions are essential to guarantee the survival of thousands of species, including humans.
At a global level, efforts are insufficient, the commitments signed to reduce emissions are not being carried out with the speed that the issue requires.
Sitting idly and apathy is not an option, we have to raise our voices and demand that decision makers integrate a multidisciplinary agenda where all sectors participate to confront this crisis.
If we don’t do something, the financial costs in the near future to protect citizens, their homes and communities from extreme weather will be very high, they could even exceed the annual Gross Domestic Product.
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