‘Our inaction is causing people to die’ - soaring temperatures bring climate reality home

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Fires in California: a heat dome has been baking the southwestern states of the US all week, posing serious health risks to the elderly, construction workers, delivery workers and the homeless. Photograph: David Swanson/AFP via Getty
Fires in California: a heat dome has been baking the southwestern states of the US all week, posing serious health risks to the elderly, construction workers, delivery workers and the homeless. Photograph: David Swanson/AFP via Getty

Extreme weather events have been taking place this month all over the globe – from flooding in South Korea to record heat in parts of the US and China.

In Europe, a third heatwave in a month is expected to hit Spain, Italy and much of the Mediterranean and to last until Wednesday.

Scientists are clear why this happening – climate change.

UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk at a recent UN council debate used unambiguous language to predict a dystopian future for the planet, from water shortages to climate migrants, unless action is taken now.

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Or as John Sweeney, emeritus professor at Maynooth University’s geography department, says on today’s In the News podcast, “our inaction is causing people to die”.

On the podcast we ask how an altered climate will change our lives and take stock of the global response to the crisis so far.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast