It sure felt hotter this summer, didn’t it? Here in Canada, many felt the effects of climate change, with more days reaching dangerously high temperatures. A new report from Climate Central breaks it down.
From June to August, Canadians faced an average of 13 more “risky heat” days. These are defined as days when temperatures were higher than 90% of local averages from 1991 to 2020. While this might not sound alarming, it has significant health implications, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
Globally, the picture is more severe. Around 955 million people faced an extra 30 days of intense heat due to climate change this summer. This highlights a crucial point: regions that usually have milder summers, like Vancouver, felt the heat differently than typically hotter areas, like Windsor, Ontario. Kristina Dahl from Climate Central points out that people adapt to their usual climate, which is why heat can hit some communities harder than others.
While Canada managed to avoid the worst this summer, Europe faced deadly heat waves. Between late June and early July, a heat event was linked to approximately 1,500 deaths across 12 European cities, with studies attributing more than half of those to climate change.
The increasing temperatures are not just direct threats; they can also lead to indirect risks, such as smoke from wildfires. Dahl notes that wildfire smoke contributes to air pollution and related health problems. This summer, Canada had its second-worst wildfire season on record, resulting in an estimated 82,000 premature deaths globally due to smoke exposure.
Interestingly, climate models suggest that these dangerous heat days will continue to rise. Even though global temperatures have only increased by about 1.4 degrees Celsius since the preindustrial era, the impact is profound. In Canada, recent analyses show that heat waves are twice as likely now due to climate change, with certain events in Atlantic Canada being ten times more likely.
Experts emphasize the need for immediate action. Hossein Bonakdari, a civil engineering professor at the University of Ottawa, warns that Canada could see average temperatures rise by 1.8 to 3.2 degrees Celsius in just 20 years. This isn’t distant future talk; it’s right around the corner.
Jennifer Vanos, from Arizona State University, stresses the importance of implementing changes now for better heat safety. This includes making air conditioning more available and developing policies to protect outdoor workers.
As Climate Central’s report indicates, climate change is not just a future concern—it’s here. Every delay in taking climate action risks further harm to communities and ecosystems. Therefore, the call for increased efforts to reduce emissions is more pressing than ever.
For more insights on climate-related health impacts, you can check out Environment Canada’s latest analysis.
