A study by a think tank revealed a 52% increase in the occurrence of 35°C (95°F) days in 20 major global capitals, from Delhi to Jakarta to Buenos Aires, in the last thirty years.
The analysis from the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) quantifies the increasing risk of extreme heat in several of the world’s largest urban centres.
Over 300 million people reside in the world’s 20 largest capital cities, which are highly vulnerable to rising temperatures exacerbated by climate change. Asphalt and buildings amplify heat retention.
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“We know that hot weather is not felt evenly across cities,” said Tucker Landesman, a researcher with IIED. “Pockets of extreme heat are more likely in certain types of neighbourhoods and commercial districts. This is tied to inequality and how we design buildings and public infrastructure.”
Capital cities like Delhi, Dhaka, and Manila have already experienced severe heatwaves this year, resulting in numerous heat-related deaths and school closures.
Delhi specifically recorded its longest and most intense heatwave in 74 years, with temperatures hitting or exceeding 40°C (104°F) for 39 consecutive days from May 14 to June 21, as reported by weather station data.
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Researchers analyzing surface temperature data from airport weather stations discovered a stark increase, from 1994 to 2003, there were only 4,755 days when one of the 20 cities reached temperatures of 35°C or higher.
In contrast, from 2014 to 2023, this number rose significantly to nearly 6,500 cumulative days.
