Periods of extreme heat are becoming more common. Here's what to know

Another month, another series of temperature records broken as climate change appears to accelerate across the world.

July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded since global records began in 1850, according to the latest Global Climate Report from the US National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). It was also the 14th consecutive month in which the temperature record was broken.

“The July global surface temperature was 1.21°C (2.18°F) above the 20th-century average of 15.8°C (60.4°F)”, says the report. It also states that the 14th-month streak of record-breaking temperatures is now the longest, exceeding the period from May 2015 to May 2016.

Heat waves are becoming commonplace across much of the world. The NCEI says Africa and Europe both had their warmest Julys on record, with temperatures “exceeding the previous record warm July by 0.05°C (0.09°F) and 0.20°C (0.36°F), respectively”. This was despite some countries being hit by unusually cold spells at the beginning of the month.

Asia also had its warmest July ever, with high averages in Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia contributing to the overall record.

Rising temperatures are contributing to extreme weather events around the world. Hurricane Beryl slammed into Grenada as the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever to form in the Atlantic. Global ocean temperatures, the engine of hurricanes, were at record highs in the 15 months leading up to July 2024, the NCEI says.

In Europe, Mediterranean countries were hit by a series of heatwaves, with hundreds of deaths seen to be heat-related, it adds. In Asia, powerful typhoons led to extensive flooding and landslides, while the Antarctic sea ice extent was the lowest ever recorded for July.

The health consequences of extreme heat can be catastrophic. Heatwaves in Europe in the summer of 2022 that caused more than 60,000 heat-related deaths. And, in 2021, academics analyzing data from 732 locations in 43 countries concluded that 37% of heat-related deaths between 1991 and 2018 could be attributed to climate change. Heat also amplifies more indirect health risks including an explosion in the numbers of malaria-causing mosquitoes, which breed more prolifically in warmer temperatures.

The World Economic Forum’s Climate and Health Initiative is bringing together a variety of stakeholders and policy-makers to develop solutions to the negative impacts of a warming world.

In the coming decades, rising temperatures will pose challenges for people, the wider environment and economies. According to research published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), more than 3.5 billion people will need to adapt to temperatures above the range deemed comfortable for humans.

Humans have traditionally resided in regions with a mean average temperature of between 11°C-15°C. PNAS says one-third of the global population is projected to experience a mean average temperature greater than 29°C currently found in only 0.8% of the Earth’s land surface.

Adaptation to higher temperatures will be vital, especially in urban areas. A number of strategies can be applied to help urban populations adapt. In response to the risks posed by extreme heat, cities from around the world are demonstrating that there are cost-effective actionable solutions that can be implemented.

The United Nations Environment Programme is a strong advocate for urban trees, citing data that shows they can reduce temperatures by 1°C on hot days. “Urban forests and large parks also provide cooling benefits almost 1km beyond their bounds by lifting warm air above ground level and dispersing cool air. Connecting green spaces creates wind corridors that reduce local temperatures,” it says.

The Forum’s Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030 has joined forces with the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, with the aim of integrating solutions inspired by nature. One outcome is the development of the Heat Action Platform (HAP).

The HAP highlights a correlation between heat and biodiversity loss and the requirement for innovation and regulation to break that link, and offers a toolkit to address extreme heat.

Natural solutions will take on increasing importance as they help reduce temperatures without contributing to climate change. Nature in cities helps increase connectivity and resilience of natural habitats and supports biodiversity.