Foreign Affairs

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts) Fri Jun 26, 2015, 05:37 AM Jun 2015

As 700 Die in Pakistan from Extreme Heat, Pakistanis Deny Climate Change

http://www.juancole.com/2015/06/pakistan-extreme-pakistanis.html

As 700 Die in Pakistan from Extreme Heat, Pakistanis Deny Climate Change
By Juan Cole | Jun. 24, 2015

Pakistan is in the midst of an extreme heat wave with highs around 110 degrees F., which has killed 700 persons in the past 3 days. Three weeks ago it was India’s turn, when extreme heat killed 1200 in the country’s south.

Despite the severe dangers to Pakistan posed by climate change, opinion polls show that only about a quarter of Pakistanis view the issue as a powerful threat. In contrast, over 80 percent of South Koreans are afraid of climate change.

South Asia is already unbearably hot in the summer. I’ve lived there in May and June, which are the worst, before the monsoon rains come. The heat is unbearable, but many Pakistanis have no choice but to bear it. Pakistan’s electricity capacity is inadequate and there are frequent electricity outages, which they call “load shedding” (our “brownouts”). Hot weather and drought hurt electricity production, because about half the country’s electricity is generated by hydro, i.e. dams. When the water levels decline, not as much electricity is made.

Average temperatures are set to go up by at least 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit because of the carbon dioxide we have already spilled into the atmosphere by burning petroleum, coal and natural gas. That will put Pakistan’s temperatures up to more like 114. It will go on up from there if we don’t find ways to stop emitting so much CO2.

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As 700 Die in Pakistan from Extreme Heat, Pakistanis Deny Climate Change (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2015 OP

Electric failures/brownouts also impact access to water Divernan Jun 2015 #1

Divernan

(15,480 posts)

1. Electric failures/brownouts also impact access to water

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 07:48 AM

Jun 2015

I've been following what's going on in Pakistan - hard enough to survive such levels of heat without fans or air-conditioning, but there's also been a lot of deaths caused by lack of hydration, because electricity is required to pump water.

First, thank you for your efforts in posting environmentally related news - I wish DU members would take time to pay more attention to & discuss this topic.

Secondly, this scenario could easily happen in Florida. During this current brutal heat wave in the South, heat index/"RealFeel" temps in Tampa have hit over 120 degrees, and in northeast Florida/Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach, over 110 degrees. Should a natural or manmade disaster knock out electricity for areas like this, how long would people - particularly the elderly- last without air-conditioning or fans?

I've lived in the brutal summer heat of places like Baltimore, Washington DC, and St. Louis in summers before the advent of central air (in the 40's-50's), when it was an effort to breathe, especially at night. As an adult I lived several years in central Florida - tolerable only with air-conditioning. And the temps have only increased since then. So as a senior citizen who's lived in Florida, but now in Pennsylvania - I've strongly advised retirees to NOT relocate to Florida. I have pointed out that if we have a failure of power in a Northeast winter, we can add more layers of thermal clothing and wrap up in a down comforter. When power fails in a hot climate, there is NOTHING you can do to cool off.

Ironically, earlier this week, a 60 foot tall pine tree next to my house came down in a heavy storm, knocking out my electric line. Local firemen advised me to stay in my house until the Duquesne Light crew came to handle the live wire laying next to my house. I was fortunate that only took about 5 hours, and they restored my power. It was so hot and humid in my house that I was drenched with sweat within an hour - flashback to earlier years of enduring whole summers like this. It was enough to remind me what hell it is to live in extreme heat. It was sheer bliss when the power came back and the ceiling fans & floor fans came back on. I highly recommend ceiling fans - since I put in 5 of those, I rarely need to use my central AC. But those few hours were a stark reminded of what millions of people elsewhere on the globe have to endure.

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