Middle East's experience in dealing with heat

Many countries around the world are facing record heat, and the Middle East's experience in surviving the heat is attracting attention.

The average high temperature in summer in Saudi Arabia is 38oC. Photo: AFP

London, England is facing its hottest days of the year, with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, causing people to flock to the artificial beaches on the banks of the Thames. The UK's Health Security Agency has issued a "dark yellow" warning about health risks from the heat, applicable in many areas.

In Germany, the country's Meteorological Agency also forecasts that temperatures about 1oC higher than the annual average will remain throughout the summer, from June to August, and there is a risk of severe drought.

River levels are forecast to drop, affecting shipping. High UV index and low humidity also pose health risks.

Unusually high temperatures in the first half of June, just as summer begins, have raised concerns about public health issues and water shortages in Europe.

Meanwhile, Asia has been enduring a heat wave with record high temperatures in late May, when the weather is usually cooler at the start of the rainy season.

Since late May, many parts of China have endured the hottest weather of the year, with temperatures hitting a record high of 40.2 degrees Celsius. The heat wave is expected to continue in the southern region for the next few days.

In the same situation, India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia also experienced a severe heat wave in April, causing heavy damage to infrastructure and increasing the number of heatstroke cases. Bangladesh also experienced its hottest heat wave in 50 years, while Thailand recorded a record temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. Temperature records continued to be set in May, when it was Singapore's hottest month in 40 years.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has just issued a warning that global temperatures could rise to record levels between 2023 and 2027 due to heat-trapping greenhouse gases and the natural phenomenon El Nino.

In another study published last week, scientists warned that up to 2 billion people will suffer extreme heat if the Earth's temperature continues to rise at its current rate, which is expected to increase by an average of 2.7 degrees Celsius this century. Accordingly, India will be the country most affected.

Scientist Chaya Vaddhanaphuti, a member of the research team at Chiang Mai University (Thailand), said that the heat wave in April was 30 times more likely to be caused by climate change, and the current heat wave seems to be affected by the same factors.

In response to the recent record heatwave, India and many other countries have taken steps to address the health risks posed by high temperatures, including opening public “cool rooms” and imposing restrictions on outdoor work. But Vaddhanaphuti said governments need to do better planning, especially to protect more vulnerable communities.

During this harsh time, many people often mention the Middle East's experience in dealing with heat. Professor Sylvia Bergh at Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands) pointed out that people in the Middle East are used to high temperatures, so they tend to live in cooler houses such as "wind-catching" architecture (directing cool air into the living space), using screens instead of walls, using carved panels from wood or stone to place in front of large windows, blocking and diffusing sunlight, creating conditions for fresh air to enter the living space... Especially using water appropriately, saving both in daily life and production.

According to forecasts, El Nino will return, meaning that the heat will continue, so countries need to have timely response solutions. In the long term, it is necessary to apply the experience of the Middle East to adapt to climate change, ensuring the safety of human life.

HN synthesis

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