At least 125 lives lost due to excessive temperatures
Central America, Mexico, and Southwestern US experienced extreme heatwaves in May-June 2024
Experts urged immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help communities adapt
Human-caused climate change made heatwaves 35 times more likely
WWA group found human-induced climate change caused temperatures to be 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than without it
In late May and early June 2024, Central America, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States experienced extreme heatwaves that were made 35 times more likely due to human-caused climate change. The World Weather Attribution (WWA) group conducted a rapid analysis of the temperature data from these regions during this period and found that such extreme heat events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense as a result of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
The deadly heatwaves claimed at least 125 lives, with Mexico being particularly affected. The excessive temperatures were exacerbated by ongoing droughts in the region and warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. In some areas, there was no relief from the heat at night as cooler night temperatures are crucial for survival during a heatwave.
The WWA group's analysis showed that these extreme heatwaves were 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than they would have been without human-induced climate change. This additional warming could be the difference between life and death for many people, especially those who are already vulnerable due to poverty or lack of access to cooling services.
The scientists emphasized that every fraction of a degree of warming exposes more people to dangerous heat. They urged governments and organizations to take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Experts also warned that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, posing a significant threat to human health, agriculture, and infrastructure. The WWA group conducts rapid-attribution studies on weather events around the world to assess the role climate change plays in their severity.
Human-induced climate change made extreme heat waves in Central America, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States in May and early June 35 times more likely.
At least 125 people have died as a result of the heat wave.
Accuracy
Human-induced climate change made recent extreme heat in the US southwest, Mexico and Central America around 35 times more likely, scientists say.
Such a heatwave was now four times more likely than it was in 2000.
Many extreme weather events including heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.
Human-caused climate change made extreme heat waves in Central America, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States in May and early June 35 times more likely.
Record-breaking heat has been experienced in wide swaths of the United States this week and dozens of people have died amid intense heat during this year’s hajj pilgrimage.
Excessive temperatures were exacerbated by feedback loops caused by an ongoing drought in Mexico and warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.
Human-caused climate change made the recent heat wave in the Southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America more intense and 35 times more likely.
At least 125 people have died as a result of the heat wave.
Doctors say cooler night temperatures are key to surviving a heat wave, but during this event there was no relief from the heat at night.
Accuracy
The results of the study should be taken as a warning that the climate is heating to dangerous levels.
Heat waves are becoming more frequent, longer, and hotter as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rise from burning fossil fuels for energy.
Deception
(50%)
The article makes editorializing statements and implies facts without providing peer-reviewed studies to back up those claims. For example, the statement 'Climate change made killer heat wave in Mexico, Southwest US even warmer and 35 times more likely' is an opinion that is not supported by any cited studies or data within the article.
It’s an oven here; you can’t stay here.
Climate change made killer heat wave in Mexico, Southwest US even warmer and 35 times more likely
Climate change made nighttime temperatures 2.9 degrees (1.6 degrees Celsius) warmer and unusual evening heat 200 more times more likely.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article makes an appeal to authority by citing the findings of the World Weather Attribution study and its co-authors. The author also quotes individuals who have been affected by the heat wave, but these statements are not fallacies as they are simply reporting on their experiences.
][The new flash study] found that 35 times more likely and 2.5 degrees hotter (1.4 degrees Celsius) because of the warming from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.[/
][Climate change made nighttime temperatures 2.9 degrees (1.6 degrees Celsius) warmer and unusual evening heat 200 more times more likely.[
Bias
(95%)
The article makes a clear assertion that human-caused climate change is responsible for the recent heat wave in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. While it does include some quotes from people affected by the heat wave, these quotes do not demonstrate bias but rather provide context and human interest to the story. However, there are several instances where the author uses language that implies a negative connotation towards those who deny or downplay climate change: 'human-caused climate change dialed up the thermostat and turbocharged the odds of this month’s killer heat' and 'From a sort of weather perspective in that sense it wasn’t rare, but the impacts were actually really bad.' These statements demonstrate a bias towards attributing extreme weather events to human-caused climate change, which is not an unbiased viewpoint.
From a sort of weather perspective in that sense it wasn’t rare, but the impacts were actually really bad.
human-caused climate change dialed up the thermostat and turbocharged the odds of this month’s killer heat
Deadly heatwaves in US, Mexico, and Central America were made 35 times more likely due to global warming according to an international network of climate scientists.
