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The Climate Question

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

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The Climate Question: The North American heatwave

Magazines & Reviews

18/07/2021 GMT

The North American heatwave

BBC World Service - The Climate Question, The North American heatwave

Extreme heat is rarely viewed as a natural disaster. Why?

Despite soaring temperatures becoming more frequent and dangerous, extreme heat is rarely viewed as a natural disaster. Why?

The heatwave that hit parts of the west coast of North America shattered records by several degrees. It affected parts of the United States and Canada that were unused to extreme heat. Hundreds of people died and emergency teams were pushed to their limits.  In Lytton, Canada, temperatures reached 49.6 degrees celsius. Days later, the entire village burnt down.

Scientists say that climate change had made this heatwave 150 times more likely. They also warn that, if global warming continues, about one-third of the world’s population will become threatened by extreme heat.

So does our attitude to extreme heat need to change?  

Joining presenters Neal Razzell and Manuela Saragosa:

Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
Dr Lipika Nanda, vice president, multisectoral planning in public health, Public Health Foundation of India 
Dr Christienne Alexander, president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians
Daniel Stevens, director, Vancouver Emergency Management Agency 
Dallas Gonsalves, centre manager for Gathering Place Community Centre  
Martin Paulson, operations chief of the Vancouver Fire Department.  
 
Producer: Darin Graham
Series producer: Rosamund Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon
Sound engineer: Tom Brignell

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