On July 25, 2024, the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, urged the world to act against extreme heat, which he defined as an invisible but deadly enemy.
Today, heatwaves are hitting many countries hard, validating that warning and demonstrating the need for a swift, coordinated, and science-based response.
Fires, temperature records, and overwhelmed services
Unprecedented heatwaves are affecting multiple regions and triggering environmental and health emergencies.
- In the United States, nearly 100 million people received alerts for dangerous temperatures.
- In northern Africa and the Middle East, water and energy cuts due to excessive heat pose critical health risks.
- Countries in the Mediterranean and the Balkans are facing the third consecutive heatwave, impacting agriculture, work activities, and wildfires.
- In Turkey, a new national record was set: 50.5°C. In Cyprus, temperatures reached 44.6°C, also marking a historic high.
- Greece, Spain, and Italy had to close tourist attractions due to extreme conditions.
- In Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece, wildfires forced massive evacuations and led to casualties.
Even more temperate regions like Scandinavia are facing unusual temperatures. For instance, Finland experienced over 15 days above 30°C. Norway and Sweden issued warnings for extremely high wildfire risk.
Europe under unprecedented heat stress
The increase in sea surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean intensified heat stress in western and southern Europe, leading the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to state that the planet is not ready to face this growing phenomenon, a direct consequence of global climate change.
UN launches resources to address heat risk
To commemorate the first anniversary of the global call, WMO, together with the Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, presented a series of tools and strategic documents promoting the implementation of:
- Heat health alert systems
- Multi-sectoral response plans to heatwaves
- Protection protocols for workers and vulnerable populations
- Structural actions to limit global warming to 1.5°C
According to the presented studies, these measures could save over 98,000 lives per year in at least 57 countries.
Global diagnosis: from technical reports to the Argentine case
Among the disseminated materials are:
- A comparative report from ten international agencies
- An analysis of national action plans in countries like Canada, India, the UK, Australia, and France
- A series of case studies in twelve countries, including Argentina, Ecuador, and Egypt
All reports agree: knowing the problem is not enough, action must be taken swiftly, consistently, and based on science.
Extreme heat as a public health emergency
Joy Shumake-Guillemot, coordinator of the Joint Office for Climate and Health of the WHO and the WMO, was categorical:
“Heat is no longer just a climate alert, it is a daily health emergency. It kills, although it does so silently.”
Many heat-related deaths are not included in official statistics, despite the effects becoming increasingly noticeable: unprotected workers, children and elderly individuals without access to cooling systems or medical care, and communities without planning for these extreme events.
There is still time: the role of science, health, and policy
International agencies insist that it is still possible to reduce the impact of extreme heat if there is:
- Sustained political will
- Investments in resilient infrastructure
- Synergies between climate science, public health, and governments
