A study has revealed that the record-breaking heatwave in Madagascar during October would have been extremely unlikely without the influence of human-caused global warming.
Millions of impoverished individuals were impacted by the severe temperatures; however, their suffering went undocumented by authorities and the press. Numerous African governments lack the resources to track climate-related effects. According to the researchers who authored the report, this lack of data poses challenges in implementing preventative measures to reduce fatalities.
A recent research study in sub-Saharan Africa revealed that the prolonged heatwave can be linked to the climate crisis. The study, conducted in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar and home to over 3 million people, found that temperatures were 2.5C higher than the average. According to the researchers, if fossil fuel burning continues and global temperatures rise by 2C above pre-industrial levels, this level of heatwave intensity is expected to occur every five years.
Many scientific studies have demonstrated that human activity is contributing to an increase in extreme weather events globally. Heatwaves, in particular, may have resulted in millions of unreported premature deaths in the past 30 years.
The UN Cop28 climate summit, starting on 30 November, will address the issue of financial aid from affluent nations to assist developing countries in dealing with the effects of climate change.
According to Dr. Rondrotiana Barimalala, an oceanographer who previously worked in Madagascar and is currently at the Norwegian Research Centre in Bergen, the effects of climate change are already evident in Madagascar, creating challenges for millions of individuals. It is crucial for both communities and governments to take action in order to build resilience.
Over 90% of the population in the country lives below the poverty line, with half lacking access to basic necessities such as clean water and electricity. Additionally, a significant number of individuals reside in informal housing, which poses challenges in coping with extreme temperatures.
According to Dr Izidine Pinto, a climatologist from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Africa is well-known for not fully reporting the effects of heat. Due to poverty, many countries lack the resources to handle extreme heat.
The Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre’s Sayanti Sengupta stated that lack of reporting does not equate to lack of impact. She also mentioned anecdotal reports of children struggling to breathe during the heatwave due to high night-time temperatures.
In August 2023, experts in climate science spoke to the Guardian, revealing that the recent extreme weather events have broken global temperature records. They warned that this is only the beginning and that the consequences could be even more severe in the future.
A recent research study, conducted by the World Weather Attribution group, utilized weather data and climate models to assess the impact of global warming on the intensity and frequency of heatwaves in Madagascar, in comparison to previous years.
According to Dr Friederike Otto, a climate science expert at Imperial College London, the issue of climate change is primarily caused and exacerbated by wealthy nations and corporations, while the most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of its effects. At the upcoming Cop28 conference, it is crucial for developed countries to pledge financial support towards the loss and damage fund.
Source: theguardian.com
