Heatwaves occurring five times as often due to climate change: new study
HEATWAVES that occurred once every three years are now happening every 200 days because of climate change, new research
has revealed.
Three-quarters of the world’s extremely hot days are now attributable to climate change, the study inNature Climate Change journal found.
Researchers predict a 60 per cent increase in extreme rainfall events, such as the three-day rainstorm which lashed NSW
last week.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said climate change meant there was more energy in the climate system driving the
increase in extreme weather events.
“Last year, we had the hottest year on record and Australians are already feeling the impacts of climate change through
worsening extreme weather events and more frequent and intense heatwaves,” she said.
“As scientists get better and better at calculating the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, the case
for accelerating action on climate change is strengthened.
“Carbon emissions must be reduced rapidly and deeply if the worst of the extreme heat is to be avoided.
“But the good news is that clean energy technologies, such as solar and wind, are advancing rapidly and are now
competitive in price with fossil fuel technologies in many places and international action is ramping up.
“The challenge for the next five years for action on climate change is clear – to move rapidly away from damaging fossil
fuels like coal towards clean energy sources like solar and wind.”
The Climate Council is an independent, crowd-funded organization providing quality information on climate change to the
Australian public.
ENDS