http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51318#.VZTfUkvD9Ah/


United Nations News Centre
with breaking news from the UN News Service

FIRST -ever heatwave warning guidelines issued by UN as global temperatures soar

Degraded dryland ecossystems put at risk the social and economic well-being of millions of people.

1 July 2015 – Two United Nations agencies have unveiled a series of new guidelines aimed at addressing the health risks posed by the increasing number and intensity of climate change-related heatwaves affecting the planet, as warm weather alerts spread across Europe following soaring temperatures that killed hundreds of people in India and Pakistan last month.

The set of guidelines, jointly produced by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and entitled Heatwaves and Health: Guidance on Warning-System Development, will seek to alert decision-makers, health services and the general public through the systematic development of so-called heatwave early warning systems which, in turn, will hope to trigger timely action in reducing the effects of hot-weather extremes on health.

“Heatwaves are a dangerous natural hazard, and one that requires increased attention,” said Maxx Dilley, Director of the WMO's Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch, and Maria Neira, Director of the WHO's Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, in their foreword to the publication. “They lack the spectacular and sudden violence of other hazards, such as tropical cyclones or flash floods, but the consequences can be severe.”

According to the two agencies, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense on a global scale, largely due to the acceleration of climate change. In recent weeks, they have already caused hundreds of deaths across India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the heatwaves in the northern hemisphere's summer of 2003 were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people across the European continent.

The publication's launch also follows the WMO's recent revelation that 14 of the 15 hottest years recorded have all been in the 21st century, confirming a dangerous trend in global warming amid devastating weather patterns and increasing temperatures.

The guidance provided by the WHO and WMO takes into consideration a number of factors, including who is most at risk from heat, outlines approaches to assessing heat stress and surveys heat-intervention strategies, all the while building upon the “lessons learned” from the implementation of the first-ever Heat-Health Warning System, rolled out in the United States city of Philadelphia in 1995.

In addition, the authors noted, the WMO-WHO joint publication is expected “to provide effective climate services and save lives in vulnerable communities around the world.”

“Growing concerns over climate change have brought to the fore three important aspects: adaptation, disaster-risk reduction and the need for climate information and services to support these,” Mr. Dilley and Dr. Neira concluded. “Heat-Health Warning Systems bring together these three facets and exemplify an effective demonstration of climate-risk management in practice.”

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2015/07/03/record-breaking-heatwave-scorching-europe-triggers-widespread-alerts/

JUL 3, 2015 @ 8:17 AM 2,677 VIEWS
Record-Breaking Heatwave Scorching Europe Triggers Widespread Alerts

Cecilia Rodriguez
CONTRIBUTOR
I'm a Luxembourg-based writer covering European affairs.

With record temperatures over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) alerts are being issued around the continent about the dangers from the heat predicted to last into early next week.
From Italy to Great Britain, governments warned of the dangers, particularly for the elderly, sick and young children.
If you’re planning a trip anywhere in Europe in coming days, be prepared to sweat. With record temperatures over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) alerts are being issued around the continent about the dangers from the heat predicted to last into early next week.

The heatwave affecting France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Germany has triggered massive power failures affecting almost one million homes in northwest France, the cancelation of outside events and athletic competitions, disruptions in train and subway service, as well as warnings advising people to stay at home, limit outdoor exposure, take frequent breaks and – of course – to drink plenty of water.

The southwest of France, southern Spain and Portugal reached temperatures over 107 degrees (42 Celsius). Cordóba, Spain, recorded a blistering 110.6 (43.7 Celsius).

From Italy to Great Britain, governments warned of the dangers, particularly for the elderly, sick and young children.
France has activated its national heatwave emergency plan and declared orange alert – the second highest of the system – in 40 regions, warning of “an enduring heatwave of significant intensity requiring particular vigilance.”

In Paris, where the “canicule” has provoked a sharp increase in air pollution, city hall has issued alerts for citizens and tourists, encouraging the use of public transportation, imposing speed limits and taking other measures to curtail automobile traffic.

Temperatures in the City of Lights are expected to hover between 91 degrees (33 Celsius) and 99 degrees (37 Celsius) into early next week.

“Canicule: Protègez Vous!” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo warned in an official alert.


According to meteorologists, similarly intense temperatures can be expected for the rest of the continent as well. The heat will be most persistent in Spain, France, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, the Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania.

Paris
A shot of the sun as it scorches Paris Photo: Paris Mayor’s Office

While some relief is expected around mid-next week, long-range forecasts warn that high temperatures will persist across central Europe throughout the month.

This heatwave is particularly worrisome after an estimated 30,000 people died in Europe during the last heat wave in 2003, regarded as the deadliest natural disaster on the continent in 50 years. The UN has urged countries to issue better warning systems and emergency plans.

“Heatwaves have emerged as an important hazard and will remain so, given projected changes in the frequency of extreme heat events associated with human-induced climate change,” the UN warned through the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization, which created guidelines for experts and government agencies on how to lower health risks during heatwaves like the one roasting Europe now.

Record-Breaking Heatwave Scorching Europe Triggers Widespread Alerts
Cecilia Rodriguez Contributor
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YouTube link- for links- worldwide news on heatwave & deaths

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NXjmSClaJx4#/

Yes, this heat wave is serious - dangerous to humans and all sorts of birds and other wild species that are struggling to find water!

I'm getting emails from the National Wild Bird Association pleading with people in those areas to remember their regions wild bird population and try to keep fresh water out {dump it every 2 days} for the birds and small butterfly population!

Rather irritating when some of the wealthiest areas will worry about their **BLEEPING** green lawns and not about the wild life that is dying from lack of water. Next year when there's no song birds - no butterflies --- just the stronger predator birds around; will those rich-bast*urds notice then?

I know. I'm getting them to save the wetlands for ducks. And keep thinking ' people want to look at & live near beauty but not take care of or protect it '

Thanks for the topic S2.

S2 & 2A,
can you help?

One of my sources asserted heatwaves kill more humans than all other meteorological phenomena combined. More than:
- lightning
- tornadoes
- hurricanes
- floods
- blizzards
- cold-snaps
- etc.

After I read that, I read assertions that contradicted it.
Do you know which is true? *

These are some Canadian geese that stopped by on my pond for a brief visit. They don't seem interested in minnows, seem to prefer vegetation.
They hand around a while, and then take off.

Thanks for stopping by birdies!



A while ago, perhaps 10 years ago or so, there was a heatwave in Paris, France that reached 100F.
The banner headline in the local Paris newspaper read:
10,000 dead in heatwave

10,000!
Can you imagine?!



We mourn as a tragedy losses less than half of that, in a War that lasted years!

Yet those reported French losses occurred only over a few days time.

Is heat the greatest meteorological killer of humans, or isn't it?

The NOAA
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/hazstats.shtml
site is the one that I've referred to most often when having these discussion about 'Global Warming' and it's going to be interesting to see the marked increase after this years record busting stats are added to the chart.

your believing the liberal run websites again... cold kills more than any other weather related cause...

http://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-weather-related-deaths-2014-7

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr076.pdf

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/07/30/weather-death-statistics-cold-heat/13323173/

It sure has!