This recent heatwave is yet another indicator of a rapidly warming climate. The hot weather is stretching across four or five states from Arizona up to Washington, with extreme weather phenomena such as firenadoes being seen in California. People are having to cope with a loss of electricity and an increase in pressure on the health systems as people struggle to manage in the extreme heat.
Severe heat waves and droughts can also have impacts on the land and wildlife. Crops will begin to fail if they go long enough without adequate water. If forest fires break out, animal habitats and their food stores will be destroyed and it will be difficult for them to find new areas. Flash floods that often follow heatwaves can also damage land and wash away valuable soils, making it harder for vegetation or crops to regrow.
To find out more, click here:
🔥 BBC News
🔥 Friends of the Earth
