Heat Action Day being observed today

Kathmandu, June 2

The fifth edition of Heat Action Day is being observed around the world, including Nepal, today to raise awareness about the dangers of extreme heat and promote measures to stay safe during periods of high temperatures. The global campaign organised at the call of the International Federation of Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is being marked this year under the theme ‘Indoor Heat’.

The Heat Action Day highlights the urgent need for communities, governments, and organisations to strengthen preparedness and resilience against the growing impacts of extreme heat linked to climate change. The focus is on the growing health risks posed by rising temperatures in houses, schools, workplaces and care facilities.

The Heat Action Day was first observed in 2022. Since then, Nepal Red Cross Society and the IFRC, local governments, local communities and stakeholder organisations have been conducting awareness programs worldwide to help people prepare for and respond to extreme heat events. Climate management expert Dr Dharmaraj Uprety shared that Heat Action Day observance aims to share practical measures for staying safe amid increasing temperatures induced by climate change.

Dr Uprety informed that the global average temperatures have continued to rise beyond the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold. He further said that the development of El Niño weather phenomena is expected to contribute to above-average temperatures during this year’s monsoon season in Nepal and other Asian countries.

El Niño is a significant climate condition that occurs when the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm. He cautioned that reduced pre-monsoon activity across the Tarai belts in Nepal could result in lower rainfall and more intense heat in the coming months.

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