this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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Temperatures above 50C used to be a rarity confined to two or three global hotspots, but the World Meteorological Organization noted that at least 10 countries have reported this level of searing heat in the past year: the US, Mexico, Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, India and China.

In Iran, the heat index – a measure that also includes humidity – has come perilously close to 60C, far above the level considered safe for humans.

Heatwaves are now commonplace elsewhere, killing the most vulnerable, worsening inequality and threatening the wellbeing of future generations. Unicef calculates a quarter of the world’s children are already exposed to frequent heatwaves, and this will rise to almost 100% by mid-century.

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[–] Samvega@lemmy.blahaj.zone 72 points 4 weeks ago (27 children)

There are also some comments about aircon not being a good answer if solely relied on, including:

One of the key effects of heatwaves, which send demand for electricity soaring and cause extreme storms that stress electrical grids, is to cause blackouts. Blackouts mean no more air-con. A recent study suggested a blackout lasting just two days could hospitalise more than half of Phoenix residents and kill 12,000, mostly in their own homes. This is why the author Jeff Goodell warns of a “heat Katrina”: you thought the hurricane in New Orleans was bad?

[–] 31337@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

A significant amount of greenhouse gasses are emitted because of air conditioning. It's a feedback loop.

[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Wait really? Do you mean by the electricity generation or by a refrigerant process?

I know those processes are inefficient and create overall heat in the system as they can’t create cool but only push heat, there should be no green house emission, just heat generation.

Are you saying extra heat will stay in the atmosphere? That’s not good but it’s not the same as carbon which allows heat to build up.

[–] 31337@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

The power used by AC is responsible for ~3% of global emissions. I can't find data about the impact of refrigerants ATM, but I assume it's significant because of their extremely high "global-warming-potential." I'm guessing a significant amount of emissions come from the manufacture of refrigerants, and a significant amount of refrigerants leak out of systems when they fail (or are improperly disposed of).

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