Deadly wildfires and oppressive heat waves have swept across the globe as multiple countries experience record-breaking temperatures that environmentalists believe is a result of climate change.
Britain recorded its hottest day on record Tuesday, with temperatures peaking at 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
The extreme heat has led to wildfires in England, France, Spain and Portugal, with multiple reports of homes being destroyed. More than 1,000 people have died as a result of the high temperatures, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Heat waves are also becoming more common in the U.S., according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
Heat warnings are currently in effect for nearly 30 states as summer temperatures climb, NPR reported. Some areas of Texas and Oklahoma have reached temperatures of 115 degrees (46 Celsius) this week.
In Charlotte, temperatures are expected to reach 98 degrees (37 Celsius) this weekend, just six degrees shy of the highest daily temperature recorded in the city, according to the National Weather Service.
As millions of Americans find ways to beat the heat, an expert says the effects of climate change could cause extreme weather events to happen more often.
What role does climate change play in extreme weather events?
Jason West, a professor at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health who has conducted research on air pollution and climate change, said greenhouse gas emissions are making extreme weather events “more frequent and more severe.”
Greenhouse gasses that come from the burning of fossil fuels are the main drivers of climate change, and they can stay in the atmosphere for decades or centuries, making climate change a long-term issue, West explained.
“What we’re seeing today is the effects of today’s emissions, but also the accumulated effect of emissions going back a century ago,” said West. “There’s a lot we can do to slow down climate change, but we’re not going to be able to turn the ship extremely fast because of this long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”
What can the public do to slow down climate change?
There are plenty of things people can do to reduce their emissions, West said, such as using solar energy to power their homes, driving electric cars, or using mass transit.
But the issue won’t be resolved until the government implements policies that encourage widespread action on climate change, West said.
He suggested federal officials enact the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change signed in 2015 with a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“We need to encourage actions that are going to be across the economy and not just a small percentage of people who care about the issue,” West said. “I think it’s the collective action through government regulation and clean energy standards that will eventually be effective in reducing overall emissions.
“Every action we take that reduces emissions will have benefits today and throughout the next century, and reduce the damages that are associated with climate change as a result of that,” he said.
What are the long-term consequences of climate change?
Climate change could lead to more droughts, which would reduce the supply of clean water needed for daily activities, West said, noting that state like California are already experiencing long periods of zero precipitation. That has led to state officials enforcing water limits for residents and businesses, NPR reported.
Excessive emissions could also have a negative impact on the agriculture industry, said West.
Higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have been associated with reduced protein and nitrogen in plants, which can prevent them from growing, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Floods and droughts have also resulted in minimized crop yields, per the EPA.
“There’s impacts of climate change on human health, natural ecosystems, even things like national security,” said West. “We see that it’s impacting many aspects of our lives and the world around us, as well as our economy, our livelihood and our health in ways that will become more troubling as this century goes on.”
Although temperatures across the world have soared to record-highs this year, West said this summer could end up being one of the coldest this century if the effects of climate change continue to worsen.
“It’s inevitable that we would have to move to a fossil fuel-free economy, or find another way to bring emissions down near zero,” he said. “Part of our choice is, do we do that now or do we do it later? If we do it later, then we’re letting climate change get worse.”
