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.

  • LustyArgonian@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Remember the Titanic sub? How those rich guys thought they knew more than scientists and engineers? When they died, I realized that was exactly what they were doing with our planet. They will kill us all for their ego and hubris. Quite clearly. That’s why they are building their bunkers and super cities and not allowing governments to actually address this issue - they think they’ll come out on top. And there’s evidence they’ve thought this since at least the 70s, so this implies a couple generations of them plotting to kill us.

    • primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      then governments can;t be trusted with the future of humanity. which I think I agree with.

      but it’s not just their ego and hubris; it’s also their paranoia and addiction.

        • primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          a monopoly on the use of violence, for the purpose of entrenching inequality. also sometimes they build infrastructure so we don’t kill them, because actually controlling people with violence is profoundly inefficient.