The number of days with temperatures reaching +35 degrees Celsius in the world’s 20 largest capitals has increased by 52% over the past three decades, according to Reuters.
More than 300 million people live in these densely populated capitals, making them particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures as asphalt and buildings absorb and retain heat.
Capitals such as Delhi, Dhaka, and Manila have already suffered from dangerous heatwaves this year, leading to numerous deaths and school closures. Meteorologists reported that Delhi experienced its longest and strongest heatwave in 74 years, with 39 consecutive days of maximum temperatures of +40°C or higher.
A recent analysis by the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development provides a quantitative assessment of the growing threat of extreme heat in some of the world’s largest urban centers.
Using surface temperature data from airport weather stations, researchers found that between 2014 and 2023, there were approximately 6,500 days when temperatures in one of the 20 cities reached +35°C or higher, compared to just 4,755 days in the decade from 1994 to 2003.
Jakarta, Indonesia, saw the most significant increase in days with temperatures above +35°C, rising from 28 days in the period from 1994 to 2003 to 167 days in the last decade. In Seoul, the number of such days increased from 9 to 58, and in Buenos Aires, from 7 to 35.
Millions of people in various countries are suffering from the heat. Recently, intense heat has been recorded in Saudi Arabia, Mediterranean countries, Algeria, and India.
Scientists say there is an 86% probability that one of the next five years will surpass 2023 and become the hottest year on record.
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