Weather crisis
By Park Gi-hyun
This year, extreme weather events have tightly gripped countries all around the globe. Countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia are painfully struggling with climate crises, such as heat waves and torrential rain.
Many parts of the U.S. have already grappled with intensely hot temperatures over the last weeks. In the U.S.' Southwestern region, the temperatures have been in triple digits Fahrenheit, which is above 40 degrees Celsius, for nearly 30 days. I cannot imagine living in an area with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Heat waves pose a health risk and are potentially deadly to everyone with no exception. I read a news article citing that hospitals in the U.S. are seeing a substantial increase in the number of heat-related illness admissions.
In the case of Europe, this year's heat is considered “abnormal” although the continent is known for sweltering weather in summer. Many European media outlets have reported the high temperatures came much earlier than usual. According to the EU's climate monitoring service Copernicus, this year's June was the hottest on record.
Some measures are being taken to combat the unrelenting heat, such as the closure of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, to protect visitors and volunteers, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. Unfortunately, the unbearable heat will likely linger with no signs of relief anytime soon.
Extreme weather events loom larger and more frequent as the higher global temperatures contribute to an increase in the incidence of extreme weather. It seems we have never gotten to grips with the problem despite years of efforts to try to minimize the effects of climate change.
Sadly, Koreans are now experiencing the lethal consequences of climate change. This year's monsoon has totally gripped Korea, destroying thousands of homes and killing more than forty people. Heavy rainfall in some regions has triggered landslides and rapid water rise, causing huge damage in a short time. A warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. The National Weather Service reported on July 16 that compared to the average amount of precipitation from 1991 to 2020, the figure has jumped by 29.3% in central areas and 38.8% in southern provinces ― from June 25 to July 15 of this year.
Meanwhile, criticism is mounting against the government for its poor response to the latest downpour. Many argue that the deaths might have been prevented had local authorities responded swiftly and effectively.
It is always too late to lament safety problems after fatal accidents have already taken place. Regretfully, tragedies often serve as a catalyst for progress. Because I am not an expert in this, I do not know what exactly we should do afterward to address this pressing issue. But what I know for sure is that all hands must be on deck to tackle this urgent issue and brace for the difficult times ahead.
I express my deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and those whose lives have completely changed after the recent flooding experienced in Korea.
The writer (faith0906@gmail.com) is a freelance English translator based in Korea.