Japan has endured its hottest summer since records began, with meteorologists warning that the unseasonably high temperatures could persist into autumn. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the average temperature from June to August was 1.76°C higher than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020. This summer tied with 2023 as the hottest since 1898, when comparable records were first kept. The extreme heat was widespread, with the country recording 8,821 instances of temperatures reaching 35°C or higher—shattering the previous record of 6,692 instances in 2023.
Japan’s sweltering summer led to significant public health concerns. More than 70,000 people were hospitalized for heatstroke between early July and late August. Consumer spending on air conditioners, cold beverages, and sweet foods surged as the population sought relief from the relentless heat. The Japan Meteorological Agency attributed the extreme temperatures to a Pacific high-pressure system that dominated western Japan, causing clear skies and strong sunlight.
China also faced its hottest August on record, with major cities and provinces experiencing unprecedented temperatures. The Chinese weather service reported that average temperatures in eight provinces, regions, and cities, including Shanghai and Xinjiang, were the hottest since records began. In addition, five other provinces recorded their second-hottest August, while seven more experienced their third-hottest.
The extreme heat in China forced delays in the start of the new school year in several cities, including Jiangxi, Chongqing, and Sichuan, where temperatures exceeded 40°C for 12 consecutive days. Chongqing, known for its scorching summers, extended school holidays to protect students and teachers from the dangerous heat.
These record-breaking temperatures are part of a broader trend of increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events driven by climate change. Rising global temperatures are causing more severe heatwaves, floods, and other weather-related disasters. Climate scientists have already predicted that 2024 could be the hottest year on record globally. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) noted that July 2024 was the second warmest month on record, just slightly cooler than July 2023.
As nations like China, the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases, continue to grapple with the impacts of climate change, the urgency for global action to mitigate these effects becomes increasingly clear. Beijing has pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2060, but the ongoing extreme weather underscores the need for accelerated efforts to combat climate change and protect vulnerable populations from its devastating impacts.