Fast action needed to prepare against hotter summers : climate experts
- 6 years ago
Despite some rain and a drop in temperatures these days here in Korea... global climate experts warn that heatwaves are only going to get worse in the future.
Our Oh Soo-young has more.
The scorching temperatures may be subsiding for now but future heatwaves could be stronger than ever.
According to global climate experts,... this summer, which was the fourth hottest on record,... has raised alarm bells over the future of our planet.
"We've not only seen the heatwaves in Korea, Japan and in Europe but we've seen wildfires in Greece, in Spain and Portugal - clearly visible from space - we've seen increase in heat-related mortality, changes in agriculture, all these things. This summer is a classic example of what we want to avoid."
Many experts have warned heatwaves across the world are likely to grow more frequent and intense in the years to come, with the average global temperature largely predicted to increase over the next few decades.
The earth has already seen a one degree Celsius increase since pre-industrial times,... which scientists say is a clear sign that climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
The 197-nation Paris climate agreement signed in 2015 pledges efforts to restrict further warming of the earth to one-and-a-half degrees Celsius.
But without the cooperation of major carbon emitters like the U.S.,... and lack of localized measures,... scientists say it's unlikely the target can be met.
"We do have the technology to stabilize temperatures at one and a half degrees. Mainly through negative emission technologies, taking carbon dioxide out of the air and storing it. So it can be done. It's a geophysical possibility but it's the politicians who need to sort of convince."
In addition to carbon-reducing policies, experts say governments must prepare disaster-response measures, to protect socially vulnerable people in particular.
"Thousands of people in France who died from the heatwave in 2003 were elderly, children or the socially weak. We need proper shelters and medical centers available to respond and take care of them when deadly heatwaves break out."
Without decisive human action,... recent studies have warned the world may see a "tipping point" into unbearably hot conditions,... or a "hothouse earth" phenomenon where global temperatures stabilize around four to five degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Our Oh Soo-young has more.
The scorching temperatures may be subsiding for now but future heatwaves could be stronger than ever.
According to global climate experts,... this summer, which was the fourth hottest on record,... has raised alarm bells over the future of our planet.
"We've not only seen the heatwaves in Korea, Japan and in Europe but we've seen wildfires in Greece, in Spain and Portugal - clearly visible from space - we've seen increase in heat-related mortality, changes in agriculture, all these things. This summer is a classic example of what we want to avoid."
Many experts have warned heatwaves across the world are likely to grow more frequent and intense in the years to come, with the average global temperature largely predicted to increase over the next few decades.
The earth has already seen a one degree Celsius increase since pre-industrial times,... which scientists say is a clear sign that climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
The 197-nation Paris climate agreement signed in 2015 pledges efforts to restrict further warming of the earth to one-and-a-half degrees Celsius.
But without the cooperation of major carbon emitters like the U.S.,... and lack of localized measures,... scientists say it's unlikely the target can be met.
"We do have the technology to stabilize temperatures at one and a half degrees. Mainly through negative emission technologies, taking carbon dioxide out of the air and storing it. So it can be done. It's a geophysical possibility but it's the politicians who need to sort of convince."
In addition to carbon-reducing policies, experts say governments must prepare disaster-response measures, to protect socially vulnerable people in particular.
"Thousands of people in France who died from the heatwave in 2003 were elderly, children or the socially weak. We need proper shelters and medical centers available to respond and take care of them when deadly heatwaves break out."
Without decisive human action,... recent studies have warned the world may see a "tipping point" into unbearably hot conditions,... or a "hothouse earth" phenomenon where global temperatures stabilize around four to five degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.