Over 14.3 million Kenyans experienced at least 60 days of high temperatures due to climate change. A report by Climate Central indicates that the burning of fossil fuels—such as oil, gas, and coal—combined with human activities, contributed to daily temperature increases during June, July, and August.
Climate Central, a non-profit science and news organization, conducted a new analysis using the Climate Shift Index, which measures the impact of climate change on global temperatures. The forthcoming report reveals that Nairobi and Mombasa were significantly affected, with the two cities facing 83 and 59 days, respectively, classified at Climate Shift Index 5 or higher. This means climate change made those temperatures at least five times more likely on those days.
To assess the health risks posed by heat, researchers identified “risky heat” days—those hotter than 90% of temperatures recorded locally between 1991 and 2020. When temperatures surpass this historical threshold, health risks increase.
The analysis provides city-level data on climate change-influenced heat, covering over 1,250 cities globally. Between June and August, 2 billion people faced more than 30 days of dangerously high temperatures strongly linked to climate change. One in four individuals experienced climate change-related heat daily during this period.
Additionally, 72 countries recorded their hottest summer since 1970, largely driven by climate change. In the Northern Hemisphere, about 180 cities experienced at least one extreme heatwave from June to August. These heatwaves are now, on average, 21 times more likely due to carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, stated, “High temperatures influenced by climate change have threatened the health of billions worldwide over the past three months. No region, country, or city is immune to the dangers of fossil fuel emissions.”
The report also highlights that on August 13, more than 4 billion people faced unusually high temperatures that were at least three times more likely due to climate change, marking the peak of global heat. Few urban areas escaped the effects of carbon pollution during this record-breaking season, with the average person experiencing 17 additional days of “risky heat,” posing significant health risks.
Extreme heat is increasingly recognized as a major health concern. In 2023, 2,325 people died from heat-related causes in the U.S. alone. However, under-reporting in many regions obscures the full extent of heat-related health impacts.
Africa was notably affected by climate change-driven temperatures in June, July, and August, with millions exposed to dangerous heat levels. Over 481 million people on the continent experienced at least 60 days of temperatures at Climate Shift Index levels 5 or higher, indicating that climate change made those temperatures at least five times more likely.
The most affected areas, including Northern, Eastern, Western, and Central Africa, saw a significant number of days with above-normal temperatures, with individuals experiencing between 49 and 58 days of heat made at least three times more likely due to climate change. In Southern Africa, residents endured 18 such days.
