This week, record-breaking temperatures have been recorded in Japan as an intense heat wave settles over the country, threatening citizens and their homes. People are trying to find relief through air conditioning, but electricity grows limited as demand rises.
In Tokyo, temperatures have surpassed 95 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a week, a record Japan has only seen once since 1875. Some cities in Japan, like Isesaki, have been affected by heat waves exceeding 104-degrees.
The heat has been the source for many cases of heat stroke, exhaustion, and even death; Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency has already reported over 4,500 patients admitted into hospitals.
To combat the sweltering heat, authorities advised citizens to stay indoors, avoid the sun, and not wear masks during physically exhausting activities. Japan’s deputy cabinet secretary, Seiji Kihara says, “I’d like to ask people to take their masks off when walking, jogging and cycling to work.”
Though there have not yet been any blackouts, power companies are urging people to conserve power, as the heat puts grids under pressure. Japan’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions to fight climate change has left it in a state vulnerable to power shortages. The country mainly uses liquefied natural gas, which is expensive and difficult to store, and in times of high demand, suppliers struggle to provide.
Luckily, the Japanese Ministry of Economy foresees a relief on the heat within the next week: “[t]he heat is expected to be reduced next week, and the power demand will also be less.” Meanwhile, people have been using social media to share their stories. Some, like Yoko Koguchi, a Tokyo politician, try to distract themselves with books and snacks. Others try to cut down on power usage, switching off the lights and unnecessary appliances in order to prioritize air conditioning.
However, Japan is not the only country to have been affected by warmer climates. According to The Guardian, record-breaking temperatures were recorded in Antarctica this March, with the south pole a whopping 15 Celsius more than past temperatures. Heatwaves earlier this year have hit India, Pakistan, and many countries across Europe.
These rising temperatures have climate change to blame. Climate scientist Vikkii Thompson says, “Climate change is making heatwaves hotter and last longer around the world. Scientists have shown that many specific heatwaves are more intense because of human-induced climate change. The climate change signal is even detectable in the number of deaths attributed to heatwaves.”
The climate crisis grows ever more relevant as its effects catch up to us. Though more people are being educated on the state of our climate through the Internet and coming up with efforts on their own to fight the heat, the only real solution is to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
Katharine Hayhoe, who is the chief scientist of the Nature Conservatory, says, “We cannot adopt our way out of the climate crisis. If we continue with business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions, there is no adaptation that is possible. [We] just can’t.”
Link:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/18/burning-planet-why-are-the-worlds-heatwaves-getting-more-intense
In Tokyo, temperatures have surpassed 95 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a week, a record Japan has only seen once since 1875. Some cities in Japan, like Isesaki, have been affected by heat waves exceeding 104-degrees.
The heat has been the source for many cases of heat stroke, exhaustion, and even death; Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency has already reported over 4,500 patients admitted into hospitals.
To combat the sweltering heat, authorities advised citizens to stay indoors, avoid the sun, and not wear masks during physically exhausting activities. Japan’s deputy cabinet secretary, Seiji Kihara says, “I’d like to ask people to take their masks off when walking, jogging and cycling to work.”
Though there have not yet been any blackouts, power companies are urging people to conserve power, as the heat puts grids under pressure. Japan’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions to fight climate change has left it in a state vulnerable to power shortages. The country mainly uses liquefied natural gas, which is expensive and difficult to store, and in times of high demand, suppliers struggle to provide.
Luckily, the Japanese Ministry of Economy foresees a relief on the heat within the next week: “[t]he heat is expected to be reduced next week, and the power demand will also be less.” Meanwhile, people have been using social media to share their stories. Some, like Yoko Koguchi, a Tokyo politician, try to distract themselves with books and snacks. Others try to cut down on power usage, switching off the lights and unnecessary appliances in order to prioritize air conditioning.
However, Japan is not the only country to have been affected by warmer climates. According to The Guardian, record-breaking temperatures were recorded in Antarctica this March, with the south pole a whopping 15 Celsius more than past temperatures. Heatwaves earlier this year have hit India, Pakistan, and many countries across Europe.
These rising temperatures have climate change to blame. Climate scientist Vikkii Thompson says, “Climate change is making heatwaves hotter and last longer around the world. Scientists have shown that many specific heatwaves are more intense because of human-induced climate change. The climate change signal is even detectable in the number of deaths attributed to heatwaves.”
The climate crisis grows ever more relevant as its effects catch up to us. Though more people are being educated on the state of our climate through the Internet and coming up with efforts on their own to fight the heat, the only real solution is to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
Katharine Hayhoe, who is the chief scientist of the Nature Conservatory, says, “We cannot adopt our way out of the climate crisis. If we continue with business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions, there is no adaptation that is possible. [We] just can’t.”
Link:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/18/burning-planet-why-are-the-worlds-heatwaves-getting-more-intense
