A recent study has determined that human-induced global warming played a significant role in increasing the temperature by 4C and making a heatwave in West Africa during February ten times more probable.
The intense temperature negatively impacted a large portion of the population, but the specific number of fatalities or sicknesses cannot be determined because of inadequate reporting.
The area is the top producer of cocoa globally, and farmers reported that high temperatures had a negative impact on their already weakened trees, which had been affected by excessive rainfall in December. The cost of cocoa, a crucial component of chocolate, has significantly increased in recent times as a result of climate-related harm to the harvests, and the latest heatwave exacerbates the issue.
According to a report from the World Weather Attribution team, the recent heatwave would have occurred less than once every hundred years if there was no impact from climate change. However, it actually happened once every ten years due to an average 1.2C increase in global temperatures over the past four years.
The scientists warned that if the burning of fossil fuels does not decrease quickly and global temperatures increase by 2C compared to pre-industrial levels, heatwaves will happen on a biennial basis.
From February 11th to 15th, there was a significant heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and averaging at 36 degrees Celsius. The high humidity added to the difficulty for people to regulate their body temperature through sweating. The heat index, which takes into account both temperature and humidity, reached 50 degrees Celsius, posing a serious risk to human health. Izidine Pinto from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute emphasized the dangerous implications for the human body.
Ibrahim from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency commented that the heatwave in February occurred earlier than expected, resulting in a lack of acclimatization among many. As global temperatures continue to rise, these heatwaves will only intensify.
This February, marking the ninth consecutive month of a new record being set, has been documented as the hottest February in recorded history. The persistence of increasing carbon emissions and the resurgence of the El Niño phenomenon are contributing factors to these elevated temperatures on a global scale.
The meteorological agencies in Nigeria and Ghana issued early alerts regarding the heat, yet many of the impacted countries have not made preparations for extreme heat.
According to Maja Vahlberg from the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the dangers of heat are often underestimated. High temperatures can be fatal for older individuals, those with pre-existing health issues, and outdoor workers. Additionally, many people in West Africa reside in makeshift dwellings, making them especially susceptible to extreme heat.
In February, farmers in Ivory Coast reported that their crops were being harmed by unusually hot temperatures and insufficient rainfall. As a result, in March, major cocoa production plants in both Ivory Coast and Ghana were forced to either shut down or decrease their operations due to the inability to purchase enough cocoa beans. According to Reuters, the cost of cocoa beans has skyrocketed to an all-time high of over $8,000 per ton, which is over three times the price from March of last year.
Pinto stated that the rise in temperature likely had an effect, as it led to higher rates of evaporation and resulted in a lack of moisture in the soil for the crops.
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Amber Sawyer from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit in the United Kingdom stated that farmers in western Africa, who cultivate the main ingredient for Easter eggs that many of us anticipate, are facing challenges due to excessive heat and precipitation. While developed nations like the UK can offer aid to developing countries, it is crucial that we work towards achieving net zero emissions. There are constraints to the ideal growing conditions for crops.
According to the United Nations, the expenses for developing nations to adapt to the climate crisis range from $215 billion to $387 billion. However, in 2021, the international community only provided $21 billion.
The scorching temperatures occurred at the same time as the Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Ivory Coast, where athletes received additional breaks to cool down during matches for their well-being.
The WWA report analyzed weather data and climate models to examine the occurrence and strength of the heatwave in the present, warmer world and compared it to a world without global warming. This is a widely accepted approach that has been used in numerous studies.
The area of focus was located in the southwestern part of Africa, where the temperatures were exceptionally high. This included countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Source: theguardian.com
