‘Climate breakdown’ alert as air quality dips during heatwaves: UN chief

‘The dog days of summer are not just barking, they are biting.’ – UN Secretary-General

(United Nations News) Amplified by wildfires and desert dust fanned by climate change, more frequent heatwaves are leading to a sharp drop in air quality and human health, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a new report on Wednesday.

The news came as the UN chief released a strongly worded statement on a record summer of global warming in the northern hemisphere, according to the European Union’s climate service Copernicus and WMO.

Earth has just experienced its hottest August on record – by a large margin – and the second hottest month ever after this July. Factoring in June, they represent the hottest three month period ever, the data indicates. 

The year overall is the second warmest on record behind 2016. 

Source: CARICOM TODAY