Beijing skyline as seen from Chaoyang Park Plaza. Chaoyang Park Plaza, Beijing, China. Architect: … [+]
Burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, which trap more heat than usual in the atmosphere. As global demand for electricity increases, burning more fossil fuels has resulted in more greenhouse emissions and more heat trapped in the lower atmosphere.
To date, scientists have conducted over 152 studies to determine how human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events like heat waves much more likely or more severe than ever before. More than 90% of these studies have concluded that human-induced climate change is making heat waves more frequent, severe and longer over the past 20 years.
While these frequent heat waves have wreaked havoc on public health, recently British Medical Journal The study reported that urban green spaces play a crucial role in reducing the rate of heat-related illnesses and deaths.
“As a consequence of urbanization and climate change, environmental changes such as the urban heat island effect and other extreme weather phenomena are increasingly visible. These issues are compounded by rising temperatures, driven largely by rapid urbanization,” the researchers wrote in the study.
“Countering these global challenges – including climate change, health inequality and sustainable urbanization – green areas or urban vegetation are critical,” they added.
During heat waves, children and the elderly are most at risk of suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration, and in some cases, the negative effects of high temperatures can end up being fatal. “The developing bodies of children, the reduced physiological resilience of adults, and the compromised health status of those with chronic illnesses make these groups particularly vulnerable to heat stress and heat-related illnesses. The exacerbated vulnerability of these populations brings saw a critical need for targeted urban planning and public health strategies,” the researchers explained.
Urban green spaces such as parks and tree-lined avenues act as buffers from the relentless summer heat and protect residents from direct exposure to high temperatures. To further investigate how effective green spaces may be in preventing heat-related illness and death, the authors reviewed 12 studies conducted in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Portugal, Australia and the United States. .
The authors noted that although their study focused primarily on high-income countries, the impacts of extremely high temperatures should be further studied in low- and middle-income countries. “People living in low-resource environments are particularly vulnerable, as manual labor in the wild is more common and adaptation to climate change is costly. Furthermore, they are at a higher risk of heat waves due to the lack of electricity during the summer months, which further harms those who cannot afford alternative energy sources,” they pointed out.
They referred to a devastating 2015 heat wave in Karachi, Pakistan, where 65,000 people were rushed to hospital with heat-related symptoms. “Heat deaths are also reported in countries such as India and Bangladesh where people are exposed to extreme heat from climate change and heat island effects,” the authors added. “Studies have found that areas with more green space have lower rates of heat-related morbidity and mortality compared to areas with less green space. Furthermore, urban greening can also have a positive impact on health and mental well-being, which can also contribute to reducing the negative health effects of high temperatures.”