- Climate
New York Times story highlights the growing number of extremely hot days in a warming world
Reviewed content
Headline: "95-Degree Days: How Extreme Heat Could Spread Across the World"
Published in The New York Times, by Brad Plumer, Nadja Popovich, on 2017-06-22.
Scientists’ Feedback
SUMMARY
This article in the New York Times is organized around maps of projected increases in extremely hot weather because of human-caused climate change. Scientists who reviewed the article indicate that climate model projections are accurately represented, and some of the impacts of hot weather (e.g. impacts on health, crop yields) are briefly summarized.
See all the scientists’ annotations in context
GUEST COMMENTS
Camilo Mora, Assistant Professor, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa:
Overall, I think this is a great article and tool. We certainly need to increase people’s understanding of this problem and this certainly helps with that.
Kristie Ebi, Professor, University of Washington:
The article describes projections of extreme heat days by the end of the century, providing further support for a well-known risk of climate change. The projections are based on exposure-response relationships from a period when there was generally low awareness of the risks of extreme heat. Awareness has been increasing with the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, as has implementation of heatwave early warning systems and other adaptation options, resulting in a decline in heat-related mortality in recent years in many locations. As heatwave-related mortality increases, it is difficult to imagine individuals and governments not taking action to reduce risks. Much better understanding is needed of how to motivate a proactive adaptation. The extent to which air conditioning could be an effective option in low and middle income countries will depend on how development will evolve in these countries, including electrification. The projections confirm the importance of rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid larger risks later in the century.
REVIEWERS’ OVERALL FEEDBACK
These comments are the overall opinion of scientists on the article, they are substantiated by their knowledge in the field and by the content of the analysis in the annotations on the article.
Research fellow, University of Melbourne
The article is accurate and interesting. I think there could be more clarity around the global warming trajectories that are used here, but otherwise the article is very good.
Professor, University of New South Wales
The study’s claims all appear to be based on sound, peer-reviewed research. The claims are in line with longstanding predictions and are not cherry-picked or unrepresentative, although there are uncertainties as always in any prediction.
Notes:
[1] See the rating guidelines used for article evaluations.
[2] Each evaluation is independent. Scientists’ comments are all published at the same time.
Key Take-away
The statements quoted below are from the article; comments and replies are from the reviewers.
“Global warming under Paris pledges”
Research fellow, University of Melbourne
There is a risk that some people might confuse the term “Paris pledges” with the 1.5- and 2-degree C targets that came out of the Paris Agreement.
“In this scenario, countries would take some measures, but not drastic ones, to curb emissions — roughly the trajectory of the current pledges under the Paris climate agreement.”
Research fellow, University of Melbourne
The map is based on the medium-emissions trajectory of RCP4.5, which is roughly in line with the combined current pledges from the Paris Agreement. It would be useful if the article noted that this trajectory is not in line with either the 1.5- or 2-degree global warming targets from the Paris Agreement.
“That’s likely to rise to a range of 137 to 200 days per year.”
Research fellow, University of Melbourne
The article doesn’t hide the fact that there is fairly high uncertainty in these projections. This helps the reader understand the confidence in the projected changes.
