- China’s extreme weather has led to the death of at least 30 people and the loss of dozens more.
- The country, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather.
- China has pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2060.
State media reported on Thursday that torrential rains in China have killed at least 30 people and left dozens more missing, as the country endures another summer of extreme weather. The announcement of the deaths coincided with weather authorities declaring July as China’s hottest month on record in the past 60 years.
China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases that scientists say are driving climate change, is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather. Heatwaves this summer have scorched northern China, while heavy rain has caused floods and landslides in central and southern regions.
Typhoon Gaemi, which moved from the Philippines and Taiwan to land in eastern China a week ago, triggered this week’s downpours. The hilly, landlocked Hunan province was hit particularly hard. State news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday that more than 11,000 people were evacuated from the city of Zixing after some areas experienced record rainfall of 645 millimeters (25 inches) in just 24 hours.
Torrential rains temporarily cut off many roads connecting townships in the Zixing area, disrupting the power supply and communications infrastructure. State broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday that the disruption was mostly resolved.
“Initial findings show that there have been 30 deaths and 35 are missing,” the report said, adding that search and rescue efforts were still ongoing.
On Tuesday, Xinhua reported that four people had died and three were missing in Zixing. On the same day, Xinhua also stated that three people had been killed in Yongxing county, Hunan, and a landslide on Sunday had claimed 15 lives elsewhere in the province.
The National Weather Office announced on Thursday that last month was “the hottest July since complete observations began in 1961 and the hottest single month in recorded history.” It reported that China’s average July air temperature was 23.21 degrees Celsius (73.78 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record of 23.17°C (73.71°F) set in 2017. The weather office also noted that every province recorded mean temperatures higher than in previous years, with Guizhou and Yunnan in the southwest recording their highest averages.
The forecast predicted temperatures would continue to rise in eastern regions this week, including Shanghai, where a red alert for extreme heat was issued on Thursday.
“Next week will be more of the same. It’s like being on an iron plate,” wrote one user of the Weibo social media platform in response to the megacity’s heat warning.
Another quipped: “It’s so hot. Did Shanghai do something to anger the gods? “
The weather office predicted that Hangzhou could reach 43°C (109°F) on Saturday, potentially breaking its all-time record. It also forecasted that the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River would likely see daily temperatures remain above 30°C (86°F). This news followed Earth’s warmest day in recorded history, which occurred just over a week ago.
Preliminary data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service showed that the daily global average temperature reached 17.15°C (62.9°F) on July 22. This was 0.06°C hotter than the previous day, which had itself set a new all-time high temperature, surpassing the previous record by a small margin.
China has pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2060, though it has resisted calls for more aggressive action. Historically reliant on highly polluting coal power to fuel its massive economy, China has recently emerged as a leader in renewable energy. Research from last month revealed that China is building nearly twice as much wind and solar energy capacity as all other countries combined.
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