Early Scorching Heatwave Worldwide... "A Disaster Caused by Humans"

The Guardian UK Introduces Scientists' Opinions on Heatwave
"Not a Natural Phenomenon but Caused by Human-Induced Global Warming"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Claims have emerged that the early heatwaves occurring around the world are not natural phenomena but disasters caused by humans.

On the 18th (local time), the British Guardian introduced scientists' opinions, noting that there is a view that this heatwave is caused by climate change due to global warming.

This year, various parts of the world including Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Arctic are experiencing significantly higher temperatures than usual. India recorded a maximum temperature of 33.1℃ in March, the hottest in 122 years since weather observations began.

In early June, temperatures in Spain exceeded 40℃. Such high temperatures during this period have not occurred for at least 20 years. In the second week of this month, temperatures in southern Spain rose to as high as 43℃.

On the previous day, some regions in France also recorded daytime maximum temperatures exceeding 40℃. This temperature was recorded as the earliest 40℃ heatwave in France since 1947.

Unusual temperatures were also observed in the Arctic. Researchers analyzed that the Arctic is more than 3℃ warmer than the average for the same period.

Experts point out that these high-temperature phenomena did not occur naturally. They argue that greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to fossil fuel overuse and industrial livestock farming have accelerated global warming, causing climate change.

A representative phenomenon suspected to have intensified in relation to the heatwave is the "heat dome." A heat dome occurs when high pressure stagnates over an area, trapping hot air and causing temperatures to rise as if inside a pressure cooker. The United States is currently under the influence of a massive heat dome, with some states expected to reach maximum temperatures of 40℃ next week.

The Guardian cited a study stating that the likelihood of heatwaves occurring in South Asia has increased 30 times due to human-induced climate change. Friederike Otto, a climate expert at Imperial College London, claimed that "climate change is a game changer for heatwaves," based on analysis showing that the frequency of heatwaves in Europe has increased more than 100 times due to carbon emissions.

Vicky Thompson, a climate scientist at the University of Bristol, also said, "It has been scientifically proven that certain heatwaves have become more intense due to human-induced climate change."

As a fundamental solution, experts argue that greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane must be reduced. The Guardian reported that academia estimates a 43% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 based on 2019 levels. Global net greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 increased by 12% compared to 2010 and by 54% compared to 1990.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing over increased air conditioning use proportional to the heatwaves. Radika Kosla, a climate change expert at the University of Oxford, UK, pointed out, "The international community must maintain sustainable cooling; otherwise, the world faces a deadly vicious cycle where demand for cooling energy causes much more severe global warming."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.