Extreme weather strains governments as heat, floods and fires spread
Heatwaves, wildfires, storms and floods are testing public systems as scientists warn climate change is likely to intensify extreme weather.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Extreme weather is hitting several regions at once, putting pressure on governments to protect people, homes and infrastructure. Al Jazeera reported that scientists expect such events to worsen as climate change raises the risk of more severe conditions.
Western Europe is dealing with another heatwave, according to Al Jazeera. The broadcaster reported that high temperatures and dry weather are helping fuel wildfires, while earlier coverage cited Western Europe’s hottest June on record as heatwaves affected the continent.
Asia is facing a different set of hazards. Al Jazeera reported that several countries are recovering from severe storms and flooding, and its related coverage cited a landslide in China that buried at least 16 people.
In the United States, Al Jazeera said dozens of cities were expected to set heat records this week. The broadcaster also reported that the death toll from recent extreme weather is rising, with damage to homes, transport systems and other facilities.
The effects are not limited to immediate danger. Al Jazeera said many countries are already under economic pressure from the damage and disruption caused by heat, fire, storms and floods.
Preparedness under scrutiny
The growing run of extreme weather has sharpened questions about whether governments are ready for conditions that scientists say may become more common. Al Jazeera framed the issue around what public authorities can do to prepare for hotter, wetter and more destructive events.
The broadcaster’s programme was presented by Sami Zeidan and featured Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist at Climate Central; Alexandre Borde, an environmental economist and chief executive of Cibola Partners; and Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment and professor of earth science at the City University of Hong Kong.
Al Jazeera’s related reporting also pointed to unequal exposure to heat. One report from France said a heatwave had exposed gaps in access to cooling, while another cited more than 2,700 deaths in the United Kingdom linked to May and June heatwaves.
Scientists cited by Al Jazeera warn that climate change is likely to make extreme weather worse. That warning is raising the stakes for emergency planning, public health systems, transport networks and housing as countries face overlapping hazards in different parts of the world.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.