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Unprecedented number of heat records broken this year, and other nature and climate stories you need to read this week

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A thermometer shows 44 degrees Celsius in Athens, Greece, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

A thermometer shows 44 degrees Celsius in Athens this summer in a year of record temperatures. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki Image: REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Tom Crowfoot
Writer, Forum Agenda
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This article is part of: Centre for Nature and Climate
  • This weekly round-up contains the key nature and climate news from the past week.
  • Top nature and climate news: Unprecedented number of national heat records shattered; Drought sweeps Southern Africa; Healthy soil makes a range of noises.

1. 2024: 15 national heat records shattered so far, and counting

A record 15 national heat records have been broken since the start of this year, according to influential climate historian Maximiliano Herrera.

That's before you even consider the additional 130 monthly national temperature records that have been broken, along with tens of thousands of local highs around the world's monitoring stations, he told The Guardian.

This amount of extreme heat events is beyond anything ever seen or even thought possible before.

—Maximiliano Herrera, in an interview with the Guardian

Maximiliano Herrera, in an interview with the Guardian
Temperatures have been steadily climbing for many decades now.
Temperatures have been steadily climbing for many decades now. Image: C3S/ECMWF

He noted that heat records are being shattered more rapidly and across a broader range than ever before, even though last year's contributing El Niño has since faded.

So what regional records have been broken this year?

13 March

Congo broke its national record with 39.6C at Impfondo

23 March

Costa Rica broke its national record with 41.5C at Cerro Huacalito

3 April

Mali broke its national record with 48.5C at Kayes

1 May

Ghana broke its national record with 44.6C at Navrongo

7 June

Egypt beat its national record with 50.9C at Aswan

20 June

Mexico tied its national record with 52C at Tepache

2. 68 million people experiencing drought in Southern Africa

The El Niño weather phenomenon has also contributed to a drought that has destroyed crops across Southern Africa, Reuters reports.

Approximately 68 million people, or 17% of the region's population, need aid, according to Elias Magosi, executive secretary for the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

"The 2024 rainy season has been a challenging one with most parts of the region experiencing negative effects of the El Niño phenomenon characterized by the late onset of rains," he said at the SADC's recent meeting in Zimbabwe.

A woman serves traditional porridge at a rural home, as Zimbabwe is experiencing an El Nino-induced drought, resulting in malnutrition among children under the age of five, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents, in Kotwa in Mudzi district, Zimbabwe.
Kotwa in Mudzi district, Zimbabwe. Image: REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

The combination of El Niño weather patterns and above-average temperatures caused by human-induced climate change has made this Southern Africa's worst drought in years.

3. News in brief: Other top nature and climate stories this week

A new study has found that an architectural zigzag design on walls can help buildings absorb less heat, emitting the heat back to space instead.

Analysis by UNICEF has revealed the extent of the danger extreme heat poses to children's health. In eight countries, children spend more than half the year in temperatures above 35°C. The research also revealed that half a billion children live in areas with twice as many very hot days as in the 1960s, highlighting the pace of climate change.

Healthy soil makes a diverse range of noises, compared to unhealthy soil. Scientists from Australia’s Flinders University listened to microphones planted in the ground which revealed that cleared land emitted only bland white noise.

Bermuda faced 35ft waves and winds of up to 85mph, as Hurricane Ernesto swept through the island.

The International Court of Justice is set to hold public hearings starting 2 December in an advisory opinion case seeking to define countries' legal obligations to fight climate change.

Turkey has tackled wildfires to its North and West, which have been fanned by strong winds, forcing many villages to evacuate to escape the blazes.

Discover

How is the World Economic Forum fighting the climate crisis?

4. More on the nature and climate crisis on Agenda

COP29 is the next meeting of the group of 198 countries that have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, taking place in Baku between 11-22 November. Here's what you need to know about the UN Climate Summit and the need to advance key priorities.

Extreme weather is impacting sporting events around the world. From running marathons at night to moving annual events to different seasons, here's how sporting organizations are racing to stay ahead of climate change impacts.

The aviation industry is also experiencing the effects of a warming climate, as more frequent extreme weather events cause worsening turbulence. Read our explainer on turbulence here to learn more.

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Contents
1. 2024: 15 national heat records shattered so far, and counting2. 68 million people experiencing drought in Southern Africa3. News in brief: Other top nature and climate stories this week4. More on the nature and climate crisis on Agenda

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