In the past few days, Japan has been enduring one of the hottest heat waves
in recorded history. Temperatures have topped 95 degrees in the past week,
and in some cities have soared to over 104 degrees. The heat is not the only
problem, however, as Japan is also facing potential power shortages due to
the increased use of air conditioning.
The government has said that 4,500 people have been hospitalized due to
heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and a few deaths were also caused by the
heat wave. Senior citizens are physically predisposed to be more vulnerable to
high temperatures, and this is especially alarming in Japan considering 28%
of their population are elderly.
The government has asked its citizens to turn off their lights to conserve
power, due to a lack of supply in electricity. “Please save as much power as
possible, such as by turning off lights that are not in use,” the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday.
Japan has relied mostly on nuclear power plants as a source of energy, but
earthquakes in the area have rendered many power plants useless. In
addition, Japan’s supply of natural gas has been severely diminished due to
the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The heat wave in Japan is not the only severe one this summer, considering
many major heat waves that have occurred in India, Pakistan, and the United
States.
Heat waves like the ones that have already occurred will become more and
more frequent around the world and will also become more intense as the
world continues to increase in temperature.
The question is, do world leaders find a way to mitigate the already damaging
effects of climate change, or stand idly by as our world continues to
deteriorate?
in recorded history. Temperatures have topped 95 degrees in the past week,
and in some cities have soared to over 104 degrees. The heat is not the only
problem, however, as Japan is also facing potential power shortages due to
the increased use of air conditioning.
The government has said that 4,500 people have been hospitalized due to
heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and a few deaths were also caused by the
heat wave. Senior citizens are physically predisposed to be more vulnerable to
high temperatures, and this is especially alarming in Japan considering 28%
of their population are elderly.
The government has asked its citizens to turn off their lights to conserve
power, due to a lack of supply in electricity. “Please save as much power as
possible, such as by turning off lights that are not in use,” the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday.
Japan has relied mostly on nuclear power plants as a source of energy, but
earthquakes in the area have rendered many power plants useless. In
addition, Japan’s supply of natural gas has been severely diminished due to
the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The heat wave in Japan is not the only severe one this summer, considering
many major heat waves that have occurred in India, Pakistan, and the United
States.
Heat waves like the ones that have already occurred will become more and
more frequent around the world and will also become more intense as the
world continues to increase in temperature.
The question is, do world leaders find a way to mitigate the already damaging
effects of climate change, or stand idly by as our world continues to
deteriorate?
