The era of global boiling has arrived as the US government announces to protect workers from extreme heat.
Recently, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres made a significant statement that the era of global warming has come to an end, giving way to the era of global boiling. This announcement was based on the latest data released by the European Union and the World Meteorological Organization, indicating that July is set to become the hottest month ever recorded.
Guterres expressed his concern for the widespread impact of this scorching heat on vast regions of North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, referring to it as a cruel summer. He emphasized that this unprecedented heatwave is a disaster for the entire planet. The underlying cause of these extreme temperatures is attributed to climate change, which, while long predicted, has now become a devastating reality at an alarming pace.
Extreme heat waves in the United States
The National Weather Service issued a warning of a dangerous heat wave that covered much of the United States last Thursday. Cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston were placed under a heat advisory, while the New York City metro area received an excessive heat warning.
In response to these conditions, the Biden administration requested the Department of Labor to release a Hazard Alert on Thursday to provide federal protections for workers exposed to heat.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that since 2011, there have been 436 work-related deaths caused by heat exposure, and thousands of people are hospitalized each year due to heat-related issues, according to information from the White House. The Hazard Alert aims to help employers understand the measures they should implement to shield workers from extreme heat and educate workers about their rights.
On Thursday, President Biden unveiled another heat-related initiative involving a $152 million investment from the IRA. The funds will be directed towards enhancing water storage capacity in regions of California, Colorado, and Washington that have been severely impacted by drought.
To prepare for future challenges, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will allocate $7 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to enhance weather forecasting capabilities. However, this initiative will enable NOAA to remain at the forefront of weather forecasting advancements, resulting in more accurate and timely forecasts.
Recently, India has also introduced an extreme heat income insurance policy to protect the livelihoods of women workers during severe weather conditions.
The Bottom Line
In addition to an ambitious strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptation measures, Guterres urged developed nations to fulfill their commitments of providing $100 billion annually in climate support to developing countries. He also called for a more assertive approach from the global financial system in leveraging its influence to combat climate change.
He thinks all nations must act promptly and safeguard their populations from the scorching heat, deadly floods, storms, droughts, and raging wildfires that ensue.
Guterres emphasized that the evidence of environmental damage is pervasive, indicating that humanity has caused significant destruction. However, he urged people not to succumb to despair but rather to take decisive action in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
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