Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Canadian Warning?

Simon Lewis (a Climate Scientist at University College London and the University of Leeds) clearly believes the recent record temperatures in Canada warn that more and more of our world will soon be too hot for humans (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/30/canada-temperatures-limits-human-climate-emergency-earth). Lewis notes that humans cannot survive extended exposures to 'wet-bulb' temperatures beyond 35 degrees Centigrade. This is because, at such temperatures we have no way to cool our bodies, even if shade and unlimited supplies of water are available. Lewis says a wet-bulb' temperature, beyond 35 degrees Centigrade, was once regarded as 'impossible'. In recent times, however, locations in the Persian Gulf and Pakistan's Indus Valley have reached such temperatures albeit for short periods and in limited areas. Lewis suggests that global heating will inevitably result in temperatures like these lasting longer and affecting greater areas. He notes e.g. that the 2019 European heatwave killing 2,500 people, is five times more likely than before global heating. Lewis opines we must a) quickly reduce 'greenhouse gas' emissions and b) prepare for inevitable future heatwaves. The latter means having to 'future proof' energy supplies (so that air conditioning etc can be maintained) and agriculture (so we can feed ourselves). I would have thought these things were obvious but politicians seem to drag their heels.

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