UN warning – half humanity at the edge of mass suicide; Mercury crosses 40 for the first time in Britain
Many parts of the world are currently facing the wrath of the weather. In Europe, America and China, the scorching heat is wreaking havoc. Forest fires are also a major reason for the heat. Forests are burning in about 10 countries including France, Spain, Portugal. Britain, which is going through political instability, has been shaken by the heatwave. Here for the first time the mercury has crossed 40.
Meteorological officials have predicted that all summer records may be broken. Health officials have expressed fears that people are likely to get sick and even die from the heat. Due to this the authorities have declared a national calamity. For the first time in the country, there is a possibility of breaking the heat records.
Instructions for working from home in the UK
Britain is currently hotter than the Sahara desert, due to which people there have been asked to work from home. According to the Meteorological Department, for the first time in the country, the mercury has crossed 40 degree Celsius. The previous record for the highest temperature is 38.7 degrees, which was made in 2019. Schools in Nottinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire have been closed since the summer.
UN warns: half humanity on the verge of mass suicide
The United Nations has expressed concern about extreme weather. The organization’s general secretary, Antonio Guterres, said that only half of humanity has reached the edge of mass suicide due to forest fires and heat waves.
“Floods, droughts, extreme storms and wildfires threaten half of humanity,” Guterres told ministers from a 40-nation meeting on the climate crisis. No country is able to cope with this. Yet we are not giving up our addiction to fossil fuels.
Fire burning in more than 10 countries of Europe
Spain: Forest fires are raging in 36 places in Spain. 22 thousand hectares of forest has been burnt. The mercury has risen above 44 degrees Celsius in south-west Spain and up to 40 degrees in the rest of the country. The fire has been brought under control in 20 places in the country so far.
Portugal: Two people have died in forest fires in the north. More than 12,000 acres have been affected. In Portugal, the mercury has touched a peak of 47 degrees in a week, which is a new record in July.
China: Many cities including Shanghai are facing the scorching heat. People are moving to underground shelters to escape the heat. Red alert has been issued in 68 cities including Shanghai. Shanghai’s 25 million people have been alerted to the heatwave.
France: For a week, forests have been on fire near Har Borde, south-west of France. More than 14,000 people were evacuated to safer places. The temperature has crossed 33 degrees. New records will be set in future.
America: In America, 5.58 million people, or about 17% of the population, are in the grip of heat. According to the Meteorological Department, dangerous levels of heat are forecast in the South, West and Midwest by the middle of this week. The situation will get worse going forward. US President Joe Biden is considering imposing a climate emergency in the country.
