Last Year (2018)

Last summer I had reported about the 2018 European drought and heat wave.

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=45204&searchType=name&searchName=Aaditya%20Singh&pageNumber=5

According to the European Drought Observatory, this period of unusually hot weather saw record-breaking high temperatures and wildfires across northern and central Europe. Part of a larger heat wave that affected the entire northern hemisphere, Europe saw an extended summer in 2018, that started in spring itself, caused partly by a weak jet stream that led hot high-pressure air to linger on the region.

 

Current Year (2019)

In the last month I have been noticing warm surroundings in Austria, as well as disturbing headlines since the beginning of summer this year as well. As it is clear, unfortunately 2019 is no better than the last year. I am highlighting below some of the recent online news reports and their alarming headlines about the recent heatwave in Europe that is expected to get worse and return yet again with a vengeance, in the coming weeks.

 

Recent Headlines

Meteorologists Warn of Potentially Devastating European Heatwave: 'Hell Is Coming'

Ian Livingston & Jason Samenow, The Washington Post 26 Jun 2019

https://www.sciencealert.com/meteorologist-warns-of-potentially-devastating-european-heatwave-hell-is-coming

 

Heatwave Scorches Europe

NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using GEOS-5 data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC

Story by Kathryn Hansen. June 27, 2019

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145249/heatwave-scorches-europe

 

Europe's Heat Wave Fried the Global Temperature Record

Dan Vergano BuzzFeed News Reporter Posted on July 5, 2019

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/europe-heat-wave-hottest-ever-june

 

European heatwave: France hits record temperature of 45.9C

BBC Report, 28 June 2019

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48795264

 

More about the 2019 summer heat wave

According to meteorologists, high pressure and winds from the Sahara Desert caused an unusually early and exceptionally intense period of unusually hot weather affecting southwestern to central Europe in late June, so much so that June 2019 turned out to be the hottest June ever recorded in the European continent, with the average temperature going higher by 2° Celsius above normal recorded values.

For the first time in recorded history, temperature in France exceeded 45° C (113° F), with a national all-time high of 46° C (114.8° F) recorded on in Vérargues on 28 June. Monthly and all-time temperature records were broken in parts of Germany, Poland, France, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Further research revealed that it was not just in Europe, but planet Earth had its warmest June on record this year.

Heatwaves and similar extreme weather events occur naturally, and logically speaking we cannot hold global warming solely responsible for such events. However, when records show 21st Century claiming Europe's five hottest summers since 1500, it equally logical to link climate change to these occurrences. Indeed, rapid global warming has had serious implications on stability of the planet's climate. Additionally, changes in land use, soil moisture and irrigation, growing urbanization, and air pollution, could also have contributed to the rising temperatures.

The various factors leading to global warming need to be addressed at regional and international levels to arrest the rising temperatures and avert a the impeding crisis. However, besides the above information on the heat wave that still continues to torment, I want to emphasize on and include in my report a valuable downloadable resource that I came across during online research.

‘International Guidelines on Heat Waves for Cities’

A valuable, practical and educative, hands on resource on heat waves

The first set of ‘International guidelines on heat waves for cities’ released by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, serves as a guideline for cities on how to mitigate the impact of heat waves. It is a very informative and easy to understand set of comprehensive guidelines covering the ‘before’, ‘mid crisis’ and ‘after’ phases related to heat waves.

Summarized below, for everyone’s ready reference, are the aspects covered in the online book:

UNDERSTANDING HEAT RISK- Realizing the direct and indirect Impacts of a heatwaves in view of changing heat risks and vulnerability of cities and specific groups of people vulnerable to heat.

GETTING CITIES READY TO ADDRESS HEAT RISKS- Successful coordination and collaboration, with roles of municipal departments in drafting the mandate to lead the reduction of heat risk and sustaining heat action.

PREPARING FOR THE HEAT SEASON- Seasonal planning focused on public awareness, education of health workers, preparations for emergency management and provision of public services, identification and prioritization of vulnerable populations with respect to occupational safety.

HEAT-HEALTH EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS- Creating heat-health early warning systems to stay prepared, target to address the impact in early stages and minimize the harmful consequences.

PREPARING FOR AN IMMINENT HEATWAVE- Communication of warnings, messaging systems for all stakeholders including health workers and public, addressing the subject of risk perception.

DURING THE HEATWAVE- Simple actions and practical advice to reduce risk at individual and city levels with due emphasis on common misconceptions and myths.

AFTER THE HEATWAVE- Planning the after crisis management with relevant steps, documenting and sharing learning, engaging stakeholders including residents, networking of cities to share experiences and creating opportunities 

URBAN PLANNING FOR HEAT RISKS- Mitigating heat risks though architectural and urban planning with measures like urban greening, green roofs, increasing reflectivity, cool/permeable pavements, car-free zones, water services, energy management plans etc. and provision of adequate healthcare facilities.

I highly recommend all readers to share this resource (link below to the online version) in their networks. The sixth chapter has very relevant advice for individuals to combat the ill effects of heat waves, something that we can all follow and share within our communities.

https://www.climatecentre.org/downloads/files/IFRCGeneva/RCCC%20Heatwave%20Guide%202019%20A4%20RR%20ONLINE%20copy.pdf

Singh, R., Arrighi, J., Jjemba, E., Strachan, K., Spires, M., Kadihasanoglu, A., Heatwave Guide for Cities. 2019. Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

The last chapter on Urban planning for heat risks reminded me of my lessons learnt at the Junior Engineering Academy (JEA) that I attended in 2017 at the Samsung Engineering Headquarters in Seoul South Korea. Therefor I am taking this opportunity to slightly divert from the report topic, to thank Tunza Ecogen and Samsung Engineering

-for organising the yearly JEA workshop to educate the young generation, and

-for taking this initiative to equip us with the knowledge and the tools to tackle the environmental problems that threaten the future of our planet. 

Fellow Ambassadors, members and readers of the forum- Let me conclude my report by urging you to apply for selection for the 2019 edition of JEA- The workshop is an enriching and 'once in a lifetime' experience that is bound to broaden our perspective, as also empower us to emerge as eco change makers in the times to come. Do visit the Tunza Notice link below for more information on the application process.

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/noticeView.jsp?viewID=47263

Other Sources & References

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44680164

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48790242

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jul/02/climate-change-european-heatwave-likelier

https://www.vox.com/world/2019/6/26/18744518/heat-wave-2019-europe-france-germany-spain

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/01/climate/europe-heat-wave.html