Temperatures above 50C used to be a rarity confined to two or three global hotspots, but the World Meteorological Organization noted that at least 10 countries have reported this level of searing heat in the past year: the US, Mexico, Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, India and China.
In Iran, the heat index – a measure that also includes humidity – has come perilously close to 60C, far above the level considered safe for humans.
Heatwaves are now commonplace elsewhere, killing the most vulnerable, worsening inequality and threatening the wellbeing of future generations. Unicef calculates a quarter of the world’s children are already exposed to frequent heatwaves, and this will rise to almost 100% by mid-century.
Late or not, we have to do all we can to stop runaway warming and ecological collapse. We know corporations and populations won’t do anything voluntarily. That is why legislation is the only way. EU is taking the lead on this. I’m hoping world countries will follow.
A lot of companies won’t even allow remote work which would put a huge dent in commuter related pollution. Will that fix everything by itself? Nope, but it’d be a step in the right direction.
But they won’t even do THAT. This one little thing that’d be better for a lot of people and reduce car dependence related pollution for people in areas with little to no public transit access.
I have a hard time believing the US will ever catch up to green initiatives since corporate lobbying pays corrupt assholes more…
It’s better for everything, cheaper, and notably has exactly zero impact on productivity, but God damnit Johnson, how can I force the interns to get me my coffee without everyone being back in the office?!