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Category: Environment

  • Recycling a win-win for the environment

    Recycling a win-win for the environment

    Inefficient waste management systems and a lack of government regulations make it difficult for businesses to recycle mattresses, as they need clarification on the requirements or where to send them…writes N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

    Have you ever wondered what to do with your old mattress once you’ve purchased a new one? One typical solution is to throw it away. But, instead of simply dumping it, did you know you might look into environmentally friendly disposal options?

    Mattress waste is a significant problem in India. Tens of thousands of mattresses are thrown each year, with the majority of them ending up in landfills. Mattresses abandoned in this manner disintegrate over hundreds of years, releasing toxic substances into the environment.

    Speaking with Anand Nichani, Managing Director of Magniflex India, a homegrown mattress brand, explains several ways to repurpose old mattresses instead of throwing them away, such as making pet beds, transforming them into little cushions, pillows, and so on.

    Read excerpt:

    Why the issue of mattress waste in India is increasing?

    Nichani: According to a 2022 report, India’s mattress market was estimated at around Rs 20,000 crore in 2022. Approximately 7-9 million mattresses are sold in the country each year, with a replacement cycle of every 10 years. The rise in income levels, increased urbanisation, changing lifestyles, and growth in the real estate and hospitality sectors are significant factors that accelerated the development of the Indian mattress market. 

    While the buying capacity has increased, we have yet to figure out how to manage the discarded mattresses. As a result, the discarded mattresses end up in landfills, which can take up much space and release harmful pollutants into the environment.

    Inefficient waste management systems and a lack of government regulations make it difficult for businesses to recycle mattresses, as they need clarification on the requirements or where to send them.

    How mattress recycling can help reduce the burden?

    Nichani:  Mattresses contain various harmful materials, such as flame retardants, polyurethane foam, and metal springs. When these materials are disposed of in landfills, they can leach into the soil and water, contaminating the environment. Recycling mattresses help to prevent these harmful materials from entering the atmosphere.

    The materials used to make mattresses can be recycled and reused to make new products. Recycling helps conserve resources and reduce the need to extract new materials from the environment.

    The recycling of mattresses will also contribute to creating jobs in collecting, processing, and manufacturing recycled materials. Job creation can help boost the economy and create opportunities for our country’s people.

    Overall, mattress recycling is a win-win for the environment and the economy. It is a sustainable way to dispose of mattresses and helps protect the environment.

    How to choose an eco-friendly mattress?

    Nichani:  There has to be more propaganda on this; people should be educated on how to buy a mattress. We often come across customers looking for a cheap bargain, and customers usually need to realise that low-cost mattresses come with highly toxic materials, that can harm their health and our environment.

    People should make an informed decision while buying mattresses, assess what their mattress is made of, look for OEKO-TEX certifications on products and manufacturing processes, and opt for patented Memoform in place of ordinary foam mattresses. Some mattresses also come with natural wood fabric – known as ecopaedic mattresses, which provide the right temperature to sleep and are environment-friendly. 

    What are the ways to recycle a mattress?

    Nichani:  Recycling, whether done on a large scale or small scale, is beneficial to the environment. Some ways to recycle your old mattress are; 

    Many waste management companies offer mattress recycling programs. You can contact your local waste management company to see if they provide this service.

    Some charities accept mattresses that are in good condition. Donating your mattress is a great way to give your mattress a new life and help someone in need.

    You can sell your mattress online through Facebook Marketplace. This is a great way to get some money back for your old mattress and help someone else find a good deal.

    What novel approach do you believe could reduce mattress pollution?

    Nichani:  One way to reduce mattress pollution is to use sustainable and biodegradable materials in manufacturing. Mattresses should be made with materials that can be broken down by microorganisms in the environment. This means that they do not contribute to pollution when they are disposed of of., viz., natural cotton, wood fabric, viscose (it’s made from the cellulose of the trees), silk, linen, camel fibre, horse hair, merino wool, cashmere, etc., The presence of such materials is usually demonstrated by certifications like – OEKO TEX and GOTS. 

    Mattresses can be designed to be more easily recycled by using materials that are easily separated and by using fewer hazardous materials.

    There is currently a lack of mattress recycling infrastructure in many countries. This makes it difficult for people to recycle their mattresses. By creating more mattress recycling infrastructure, we can make it easier for people to recycle their mattresses and reduce mattress pollution.

    Many people are not aware that mattresses can be recycled. Educating the public about mattress recycling can encourage more people to recycle their mattresses and reduce mattress pollution.

    Any DIY projects that may be done to utilise old mattresses instead of throwing them away.

    Nichani:  There are so many innovative things one could do with old mattresses; Upcycle them to use as upholstery for your garden/balcony furniture, use them as a pet bed, use them for your kids’ play area, convert them into small cushions, pillows, materials such as fabric and springs and foam can be used as mulch in your garden to help retain moisture and suppress weed growth.

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  • New York City bans single-use plastic in takeout orders

    New York City bans single-use plastic in takeout orders

    The new measures, aimed at cutting down single-use plastic waste…reports Asian Lite News

    New restrictions introduced in New York City, the most populous city in the US, to reduce single-use plastic waste in takeout orders came into effect.

    Under the new rules implemented from Monday onwards, restaurants and delivery services in the city are not allowed to provide plastic utensils, condiment packets, napkins or extra containers in takeout and delivery orders unless customers ask for them.

    That means restaurants will no longer automatically include plastic containers, knives and forks, packets of mayo, dressing, as well as ketchup in a to-go order without customer’s request, Xinhua news agency reported.

    The new measures, aimed at cutting down single-use plastic waste, stemmed from the “Skip the Stuff” law signed by New York Mayor Eric Adams earlier this year.

    A warning period for the regulations ends on June 30, 2024, then fines will be issued for violations.

    Those who violate the restrictions will face penalties, starting at $50 for the first offence, $150 for the second, and $250 for the third.

    According to data cited by the New York City Council’s Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, more than 320 million ton of plastics is used in the country each year, with 95 per cent of it being single-use, and of those single-use plastics, only 14 per cent are recycled.

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  • Canada wildfire carbon emissions exceed 1 bn tonnes

    Canada wildfire carbon emissions exceed 1 bn tonnes

    Smoke from wildfires in Canada has again drifted to the US, placing American cities among the most polluted in the world…reports Asian Lite News

    The massive carbon dioxide emissions from the raging wildfires in Canada have exceeded one billion tonnes, according to a study by Chinese scientists.

    Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emitted by the wildfires in Canada have a noticeable impact on global warming and the wildfires have evolved into a global environmental event, said Liu Zhihua, a researcher from the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences who led the study.

    According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC), as of July 26 local time, there were 4,774 fires across the country, and the cumulative fire area has exceeded 121,000 square kilometers.

    The researchers conducted a rapid assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the wildfires based on remote sensing observations.

    It is estimated that as of July 26 local time, the wildfires in Canada have directly emitted about one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. The greenhouse effect of methane and nitrous oxide emissions is about 110 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and the total greenhouse gas emissions are about 1.11 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

    This number has exceeded Japan’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions of 1.067 billion tonnes in 2021, according to data cited from the Global Carbon Project.

    In addition to affecting the climate, the wildfires in Canada also released air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, organic aerosols, and black carbon, which harm human health.

    In June, the air quality in New York, Chicago, and other places in the United States deteriorated significantly. These air pollutants are also transported over long distances worldwide under westerly circulation, affecting areas in Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

    The wildfires have also wreaked havoc on forest ecosystems. The rapidly burning wildfires led to extensive vegetation destruction and biodiversity loss, depriving animals of habitats and food sources.

    Smoke from wildfires in Canada has again drifted to the US, placing American cities among the most polluted in the world. Detroit, New York and Chicago have the worst air quality in the US, ranking 13th, 15th and 20th, respectively, among the world’s most polluted cities, according to real-time data from IQAir.

    The National Weather Service has issued an air-quality alert for a large swath of the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes region, with millions of people expected to be affected.

    Smoke from Canada’s wildfires has filled U.S. skies with an unhealthy haze for weeks, becoming a hallmark of the 2023 summer. The smoke raises a number of questions, from why the fires have lasted so long to how smoke keeps ruining air quality for tens millions of people in the U.S.

    For many people, the smoke is worse than any other time in recent memory. And there are concerns about whether this might simply be the new normal — if people in the central and eastern U.S. should simply get used to the idea that their summers will be marked by weeks of smoke rather than blue skies and clear sunshine.

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  • Biden steps up efforts to combat extreme heat

    Biden steps up efforts to combat extreme heat

    The President met on Thursday with Mayors from two US cities grappling with high temperatures…reports Asian Lite News

    US President Joe Biden has announced new actions to protect communities from extreme heat.

    Biden on Thursday directed the US Department of Labor to issue first-ever hazard alert for heat and announced new investments to protect communities.

    Millions of Americans are currently experiencing the effects of extreme heat, which is growing in intensity, frequency, and duration due to the climate crisis, Xinhua news agency reported.

    The President met on Thursday with Mayors from two US cities grappling with high temperatures, which are Phoenix of Arizona, and San Antonio of Texas.

    Biden learned directly about how their communities are being impacted by extreme heat and discussed the steps to protect communities like theirs, according to the White House.

    Biden noted that nearly 600 people in the US die from extreme heat each year, more than from floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined.

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  • G20 must step up for climate action, says Guterres

    G20 must step up for climate action, says Guterres

    “Climate change is here,” he said as the message was brought home to the UN headquarters by New York declaring an extreme heat advisory for the city…reports Arul Louis

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appealed to G20 leaders who will meet at a summit in New Delhi to act urgently on climate change because its outcome will impact further efforts.

    Calling the September summit headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “critical opportunity”, he said: “Particularly G20 countries — responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions – must step up for climate action and climate justice.”

    The success of the UN climate change meeting known as the Conference of Parties (COP) in December in Dubai will depend on the outcome of the G20 meeting, he said while speaking to reporters.

    “The G20’s success is a basic precondition for the success of the COP, because nobody else can compensate if those members of the G20 do not seriously engage in a dramatic reduction of that emissions,” he said.

    While smaller developing countries like the small island countries are trying to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, “They are not the problem; the problem are developed countries and the emerging economies that meet in the G20”, he said.

    “Climate change is here,” he said as the message was brought home to the UN headquarters by New York declaring an extreme heat advisory for the city.

    “Extreme weather is becoming the new normal,” he warned.

    “All countries must respond and protect their people from the searing heat, fatal floods, storms, droughts, and raging fires that result,” he said.

    “We must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition” to fight climate change.

    India suffered through an extreme heat wave in the past three months with parts of the country hitting 47 degrees Celsius.

    While he attributed 80 per cent of the greenhouse emissions collectively to the G20 nations, Guterres also spoke of the differences among countries, which would apply to countries in the group.

    “Those countries on the frontlines — who have done the least to cause the crisis and have the least resources to deal with it — must have the support they need to do so,” he said.

    “It is time for a global surge in adaptation investment to save millions of lives from climate carnage,” he added. He said that the developed countries should stand by their commitments to give $100 billion a year to help developing countries deal with climate change and noted that only Germany and Canada have contributed their share.

    Guterres, who has launched a war on fossil fuels, called for ending financing of projects using them and said investments should be directed to renewable energy projects. “Many banks, investors and other financial actors continue to reward polluters and incentivise wrecking the planet,” he said.

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  • UNFCCC, COP28 urge G20 to take lead in climate change mitigation

    UNFCCC, COP28 urge G20 to take lead in climate change mitigation

    They also called on the G20 to show that it can deliver for the most climate vulnerable, including the least developed countries and small island developing states…reports Asian Lite News

    COP28 President-designate Sultan Al Jaber and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary Simon Stiell on Thursday called upon G20 nations to take a greater leadership role in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

    With only 125 days to go, the leaders issued a joint statement on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Chennai, calling on G20 nations to “lead the way” on delivering a positive outcome on mitigation at the COP28 climate conference this year.

    “The science demands a strong mitigation outcome at COP28 that drives a significant reduction in emissions and builds on the progress of previous COPs, and we call on the G20 to lead the way on the basis of both science and equity and lay the path to a strong and credible outcome that provides developing countries with the basis to undertake a just transition,” the leaders said in the statement.

    “Together, we must take necessary steps to accelerate the inevitable phase-down of all fossil fuels in a responsible manner, in order to have an energy system free of unabated fossil fuels by the middle of this century while enabling access for all and promoting sustainable development,” they said in the statement, which reiterated the importance of tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements across sectors by 2030.

    While the discussions at the G20 Energy Ministerial considered energy transition and aligning current pathways with the Paris Goals, the outcome did not provide a sufficiently clear signal for transforming global energy systems, scaling up renewable and clean energy sources and responsibly phasing down fossil fuels.

    “It is our hope that any progress achieved by the G20 drives decisively a strong outcome at COP28 under the Global Stocktake and capitalizes on the Just Transition Work Programme established at COP27 to ensure that this transition is fair, leaves no one behind and supports the broad development challenges faced by developing countries in launching this transition,” the statement added.

    The leaders also urged G20 nations to raise the importance of defining a Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and operationalizing the loss and damage fund and funding arrangements “to an equal level, to ensure that the human face of the climate change is at the center of all our decisions.” Adaptation finance must be doubled urgently, the leaders said.

    “The G20 must affirm its commitment to achieve the operationalization of the fund and funding arrangements. Those at the frontline of climate change need our support now, not in 5 years’ time. This is the benchmark for ambition,” they said in the statement.

    They also called on the G20 to show that it can deliver for the most climate vulnerable, including the least developed countries and small island developing states.

    Delivering on the 2030 agenda will depend on making climate finance more available, affordable and accessible to developing countries, the leaders state. “Climate finance arrangements will need to be transformed to deliver at the necessary scale, to work better as a system and to support private finance mobilization at unprecedented levels.”

    The leaders also called on G20 nations “to urgently prioritize your revised commitments, whether NDCs, NAPs or on climate finance, including contributions to the ambitious replenishment of the GCF to align with the Paris Goals.”

    “We must leave Chennai on the right path and with a clear signal that the political will to tackle the climate crisis and launch a new era of development is within our grasp, because it is only a short path to COP28. Every meeting counts, every outcome must bring us closer. The world needs its leaders to unite, act and deliver; and that must start with the G20,” the statement concluded.

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  • UN body on climate science elects Skea as new Chair

    UN body on climate science elects Skea as new Chair

    Skea was elected by 90 votes to 69 in a run-off with Thelma Krug, the IPCC said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News

    Jim Skea of the UK is the newly elected Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body assessing climate change science.

    With nearly 40 years of climate science experience and expertise, Skea will lead the IPCC through its seventh assessment cycle.

    Skea was elected by 90 votes to 69 in a run-off with Thelma Krug, the IPCC said in a statement.

    “Climate change is an existential threat to our planet. My ambition is to lead an IPCC that is truly representative and inclusive, an IPCC looking to the future while exploiting the opportunities that we have in the present. An IPCC where everyone feels valued and heard,” said Skea in his address to the delegates attending the IPCC elections.

    “In this, I will pursue three priorities — improving inclusiveness and diversity, shielding scientific integrity and policy relevance of IPCC assessment reports, and making the effective use of the best available science on climate change. My actions as the Chair of the IPCC will ensure that these ambitions are realised,” he added.

    The election took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya, where the IPCC is holding its 59th session.

    Elections for other positions in the IPCC Bureau, including the Co-Chairs of the IPCC Working Groups, will take place from July 26-28.

    Four candidates ran for the Chair of the IPCC. These were the first elections in the history of the IPCC with women candidates running for this position.

    Skea, 69, is Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College in London. During the IPCC’s just completed sixth assessment cycle, Skea was the Co-Chair of Working Group III, assessing the mitigation of climate change.

    Most of his career, spreading over decades, has been dedicated to ensuring that the challenges of climate change are understood, and actions to avert them are taken.

    Responding to the election of the new IPCC Chair, Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International, told IANS: “As the world grapples with life-threatening heatwaves, devastating floods, and catastrophic wildfires intensified by global warming, the newly appointed IPCC chair, Jim Skea, assumes a critical role. His mission extends beyond merely placing science at the heart of climate action; it involves infusing a deep sense of urgency within the global community about the imperative to act quickly and decisively.”

    “The role of scientists in this global crisis now surpasses the conventional confines of research and analysis. They are being called upon to serve as forceful advocates for practical solutions, actively championing measures based on equity and justice that will effectively tackle the escalating climate change crisis,” she added.

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  • Ministers from 35 countries to meet for G20 meet in Chennai  

    Ministers from 35 countries to meet for G20 meet in Chennai  

    During the fourth ECSWG, further discussion on the outcome documents is scheduled to take place in parallel, under the two broad tracks of Environment and Climate, they said…reports Asian Lite News

    Chennai will play host to the fourth Environment & Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers’ meeting, which commences here on July 26, in which nearly 35 ministers from different countries will participate.

    Speaking about the three-day event being held under India’s G20 Presidency, Richa Sharma, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, here said on Tuesday that Union Environment Bhupender Yadav who holds the portfolio will address the ministerial meeting.

    About 300 delegates from the G20 member countries, invitees and representatives of several international organisations will be taking part in meeting.

    The previous meetings were held in Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai.

    “We have brought in new thematic priorities for discussions, such as land degradation due to forest fires or owing to abandoned mines. Different working groups will conclude their work and finally meet in Delhi,” Sharma told reporters here.

    “We are working towards developing G20 high-level principles on a sustainable ocean-based economy,” she added. A detailed report on handling marine plastic litter will be prepared. Tomorrow’s event attracts the largest number of participants, indicating the Presidency’s success for the thematic priorities,” she said.

    Bivash Ranjan, Additional Director General of Forests, MoEF & CC; Naresh Pal Gangwar, Additional Secretary, MoEF & CC; and Richa Sharma, the theme Chairs for land restoration, circular economy, and blue economy, who jointly addressed media persons, said the deliberations of the 4th ECSWG meeting will conclude with the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting on Day 3, wherein the outcome and the Presidency documents will be released.

    In the previous three meetings, as well as virtual sessions in May, June and July, collaborative and inclusive discussions took place and the discussions centered on identifying the root cause and global solutions that could help tackle the multidimensional challenge of climate and environmental degradation.

    During the fourth ECSWG, further discussion on the outcome documents is scheduled to take place in parallel, under the two broad tracks of Environment and Climate, they said.

    “Coastal and marine spatial planning is also an important issue and how this should be used in a comprehensive and incubated manner, and the kind of planning approach to be undertaken would be taken into account. This is underway for Puducherry and Lakshadweep. A draft document has been prepared for the entire coastline of India and the islands,” Sharma said.

    Govt to release 2 commemorative coins to mark G20 presidency

    The government will release two commemorative coins of ₹ 100 and ₹ 75 to mark India’s G20 presidency. According to a gazette notification issued on July 24, the commemorative ₹ 100 coin will bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend Satyamev Jayate in Devnagari on its obverse side.

    It will also be flanked on the left periphery with the word ‘Bharat’ in Devnagari script and on the right periphery with the word ‘India’ in English.

    The reverse side of the coin will have the design of the logo of India’s G20 Presidency in the centre and Vasudhev Kutumbkam will be written in Devnagari script on the upper periphery of the coin and the inscription ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ in English will be written on lower periphery of the coin, as per the notification.

    The standard weight of both coins would be 35 grams each and they will be of 44 millimetres in diameter.

    India’s presidency of the G20 is from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. The G20 is an inter-governmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.

    Under India’s presidency, the leaders’ summit is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10.

    Commemorative coins are typically issued by the government to mark a special occasion.

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  • Afghan farmers hit hard by severe drought and harsh winter

    Afghan farmers hit hard by severe drought and harsh winter

    The organization added that FAO requires USD 252.4 million to assist eight million people in Afghanistan in 2023, according to TOLO News…reports Asian Lite News

    The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report that severe and widespread drought and a bitterly cold winter have impacted farmers in Afghanistan, reported TOLO News.

    “Severe and widespread drought, in addition to an extremely harsh winter, have impacted farmers…,” reported the Food and Agriculture Organization. Referring to Afghanistan, the FAO added that 80 percent of Afghan families are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.

    “With 80 percent of families dependent on agriculture for their food and income, humanitarian livelihood support is critical,” FAO added.

    The FAO mentioned in a report published in 2022, “Every USD $1 spent to protect rural livelihoods saved around USD $7 in additional humanitarian assistance, generated further income for Afghan families and supplied food in local markets.”

    Moreover, the organization added that FAO requires USD 252.4 million to assist eight million people in Afghanistan in 2023, according to TOLO News.

    Abdul Baseer Taraki, an economist, said that since the Taliban is not recognized, there is less assistance.

    “Currently, our country is not recognized, the banking system is problematic, the business is down and we are forced to accept less than 30 to 40 percent of assistance,” he said.

    However, Abdul Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister of Economy, said that the main reasons for poverty are the imposed sanctions on Afghanistan and the suspension of international assistance for infrastructural projects, reported TOLO News.

    “The sanctions and freezing of Afghan assets will undoubtedly have their effects on the livelihood of the people of Afghanistan,” said Nazari.

    Furthermore, in June, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report said that the estimated number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan has surged to 28.8 million from 28.3 million which was recorded at the beginning of 2023, according to TOLO News.

    Livestock farmers hit by drought

    Livestock farmers said that due to drought in Bamyan province of Afghanistan, animal fodder has decreased which has made agriculture, especially feeding livestock, very challenging, TOLOnews reported.

    Lamenting over the challenges faced by Livestock farmers on a daily basis in the province, they said that the lack of fodder is not the only problem but the occurrence of various animal diseases has also had a bad effect on livestock farming and has reduced their income, TOLOnews said. One of the Bamiyan livestock farmers is Mohammad Kazem. He claimed that while he once kept close to 60 sheep, he is now only able to feed10 sheep.

    “The drought affected me so much that I was keeping fifty or sixty sheep at that time and that was easy for me. Now that I keep ten sheep, we are in trouble. Now our children are shepherding them. I give them water from the well,” Mohammad Kazem said, according to TOLOnews.

    Livestock farmers claimed that in the past, their livelihoods were supported by raising livestock, but that this is no longer possible for them.

    According to livestock farmer Mohammad Alim, “Drought and persistent pests have presented people with challenges, which has reduced the number of people’s livestock year by year.”

    “Eighty per cent of the people have sold their livestock because of both disease and drought,” said Mohammad Baqir, another livestock farmer, as the situation remains grim in the province.

    Given that the majority of Afghans live in great poverty, it is the humanitarian organisations that have navigated the way for Afghan families to get basic amenities and have provided essential relief and services to the people.

    With time, the situation of people in Afghanistan has become miserable. People continue to face food shortages, and the basic amenities to live have become a far cry for all. Moreover, the situation of women in the country has only got worse. (ANI)

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  • 40 million Americans under heat alerts

    40 million Americans under heat alerts

    Temperatures are forecast to reach or exceed 43.3 degrees Celsius in states including California and Arizona…reports Asian Lite News

    Amid a scorching heat wave, the US National Weather Service (NWS) has issued heat alerts for 40 million Americans across at least a dozen states, from Montana to Texas and Florida.

    Scorching temperatures will linger in the US Southwest while intensifying in the Midwest this week, NWS update issued on Monday said. A heat dome that has been stationary over the Southwest is expected to stretch into the Midwest , it added.

    Temperatures are forecast to reach or exceed 43.3 degrees Celsius in states including California and Arizona. Arizona’s capital city of Phoenix has now witnessed a record-breaking 24 consecutive days of temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius, well past the previous record of 18 days set in 1974.

    Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms are forecasted for parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Thunderstorms will continue to increase in coverage and intensity throughout the day as daytime heating destabilises the atmosphere, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.

    The strongest storms will pose a risk of locally damaging wind gusts. Meanwhile, at least 18 heat-related deaths have occurred in Arizona’s Maricopa County since April, with 69 more fatalities under investigation.

    The National Park Service has also reported at least four deaths among visitors. Two female hikers were found dead in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada on Sunday, amid temperatures as high as 45 degrees.

    The world has just sweltered through the hottest June in the 174-year global climate record. The average global surface temperature in June was 1.05 degrees Celsius above average, ranking June 2023 as Earth’s warmest June on record, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

    June 2023 was 0.13 of a degree warmer than the previous record set in June 2020. June 2023 also marked the 47th consecutive June and the 532nd consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average, according to NOAA.

    Additionally, Earth’s ocean surface temperature anomaly — which indicates how much warmer or cooler temperatures are from the long-term average — were the highest ever recorded, according to scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

    Climate change and strong El Nino events are behind the unprecedented weather conditions, scientists said.

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