Death tolls mount in the 'summer of heat'

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🗞️ Driving the news: An unprecedented two-month-long heatwave starting in mid-June across the Southwest and other parts of the U.S., fueled by climate change and El Niño, has resulted in widespread illnesses, emergency room visits, and fatalities
• A tragic incident includes Texas couple Ramona and Monway Ison, who were found dead in their home with a broken air conditioner they couldn't afford to fix.

🔭 The context: This relentless heatwave has put immense pressure on healthcare facilities and exposed the lack of preparedness in many cities for increasing heatwave frequencies
• July's global average temperature broke records, with extreme temperatures felt across Europe, Asia, and the southwestern United States

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The widespread heatwave serves as a grim testament to the impacts of climate change and a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate mitigation efforts

⏭️ What's next: Cities and governments must enhance preparedness measures and increase awareness of the risks associated with extreme temperatures
• Improved tracking of heat-related fatalities, access to cooling centers, and support for vulnerable populations will be vital in avoiding further tragedies

💬 One quote: “This has been an unprecedented summer of heat” (John Balbus, leader of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Climate Change and Health Equity) 

📈 One stat: During this heatwave, 911 calls for heat-related illnesses were nearly 30% higher than average, and Texas alone confirmed at least 34 heat-related deaths in June

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