March, April and May 2024 set latest records for monthly global temperatures. The effects of climate change attributable to the burning of fossil fuels are obvious, especially in the shape of utmost temperatures. Using the Climate Change Index (CSI), Central Climate Report found that each day from March 1 to May 31, 2024, one in 4 people on this planet experienced temperatures not less than thrice higher than normal as a consequence of climate change.
On April 6, 2024, one in three people worldwide experienced extreme heat with a CSI of three or higher. In 58 countries, including Southeast Asia, the typical population felt strongly impacted by climate change on not less than two out of three days within the last three months.
The report also indicated that Brunei was probably the most vulnerable country in Asia to climate change, with its population experiencing very severe climate change impacts (CSI 3 or more) on a mean of 90 days a yr. On the opposite hand, Indonesia had the very best number of individuals exposed to CSI 5 for greater than 60 days – a complete of two.2 million people.
Overall, 71%, or 3.3 billion people in Asia, experienced not less than someday of very high exposure to climate change (CSI 3 or higher). About 9% of the Asian population, particularly in Southeast Asia, experienced extreme heat (CSI 5) on not less than 60 days within the last 3 months.
In 9 Southeast Asian countries, the typical population experienced this impact on not less than two out of three days per season. In these countries, including Brunei, Malaysia, East Timor, Singapore and Indonesia, the impact of climate change was very high on 88% of the times within the season.
The effects of the heatwave were also felt in several countries. In the Philippines, schools were forced to shut. In Thailand, parents have been advised to not let children play outdoors. Myanmar even recorded its highest-ever April temperature of 48.2°C, while Laos broke its national record of 43.6°C.
Extreme heat in major cities world wide is increasing rapidly as a consequence of climate change. Here are some Southeast Asian cities with probably the most extreme heat days (CSI grade 3 or higher) over the past 3 months:
- Makassar, Indonesia: 92 days, temperature anomaly 1.2°C
- Davao, Philippines: 88 days, temperature anomaly 0.9°C
- Semarang, Indonesia: 88 days, temperature anomaly 0.9°C
This condition is exacerbated by population density and concrete development patterns, creating the urban heat island effect. Of 48 large cities world wide, 40 had not less than someday with climate change-related temperatures (CSI 3 or more).
Some of the main cities in Southeast Asia experiencing extreme heat include:
- Jakarta, Indonesia: 77 days with CSI 3 or above, 69 days with CSI 5 or above, temperature anomaly 0.9°C.
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: 76 days with CSI 3 or above, 62 days with CSI 5 or above, temperature anomaly 1.2°C.
- Manila, Philippines: 75 days with CSI 3 or above, 67 days with CSI 5 or above, temperature anomaly 1.2°C.
- Bangkok, Thailand: 69 days with CSI 3 or above, 58 days with CSI 5 or above, temperature anomaly 0.9°C.
The Climate Central report used each day temperature data from ECMWF ERA5 (March 1–May 28, 2024) and NOAA GFS (May 29–31, 2024) to calculate the Climate Change Index (CSI). Population estimates based on the Gridded World Population v4 (2020) were used to find out global CSI exposure of three or greater.
The evaluation covers 175 countries and territories, specializing in temperature anomalies, variety of days at different CSI thresholds, and population exposure to CSI 5. The state-level evaluation covers 84 states and territories within the US and India with similar rates.
Mean temperature anomalies and the variety of days at various CSI levels, including the CSI 5 threshold, were calculated for giant cities (over a million inhabitants) and US cities. Data
