Will Australia Become Too Hot for Life?

Australia attracts over 8 million tourists each year. With average temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius through January and December – when countries like the UK are at their coldest – it’s understandable that a large proportion of these tourists are sun-seekers.

Even in the colder months, the temperatures struggle to dip below 15 degrees Celsius, which is great news for those that love warm weather. Residents could probably get through the whole year without the need to switch on the heating, in fact. However, there’s also a danger that these temperatures could get out of hand…

Rising global temperatures

As more greenhouse gases are emitted, more of the sun’s heat is absorbed and retained in the Earth’s atmosphere. This is leading to increased temperatures across the globe. Since 1880, average temperatures have risen by 0.8 degrees, with the bulk of this rise occurring in the last few decades – and more increases in store.

This is particularly dangerous for places which already experience some extreme heats. With temperatures frequently pushing towards 40 degrees Celsius in some parts, Australia is known for being well above the optimum temperature of 18-24 degrees Celsius for humans.

Calculating the increase

A recent study in Geophysical Research Letters estimates that by 2040, Australia could be enduring summer days of 50 degrees Celsius. That’s if they adhere to the 2 degrees warming limit set out in the Paris Agreement. That’s more than double the optimum air temperature in what was thought to be the Agreement’s ideal scenario.

When temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius are sustained, they can have serious implications for people’s health. Children, the old and those who are already ill would be at the highest risk, but the extreme heat can lead to illness or even death for anyone.

Then there’s the environmental impact…

As well as harming humans, the extreme heat would lead to further destruction of the Great Barrier Reef. Many scientists have also found that temperatures going up to 50 degrees Celsius are associated with disastrous bushfires.

To stop temperatures rising, Australia and the rest of the world will need to focus on ways to reduce emissions. Harnessing power from the sun is one way to reduce emissions, which are largely down to fossil fuel burning. Find out more about innovation in the renewable industry in the article ‘Solar Projects at Lufft’.