The whole world is struggling with heatwaves and extreme heat. This time, there is a lot of chaos, specially in India. The monsoon also started arriving relatively late across the nation. The number of deaths reported may be unprecedented. According to research by the non-governmental organisation Climate Central, more than 5 billion people globally experienced extreme heat in June 2024 due to climate change.
This is a sign of a constantly warming planet. The impact of heatwaves on people is clearly evident, and effects are also becoming increasingly visible. The rising incidents of extreme heat or heatwaves due to climate change are a clear signal for our entire ecosystem and the animals affected by it.
Impact on Terrestrial Ecosystems
Heat has disturbed the delicate balance of the terrestrial ecosystem, affecting both flora and fauna. There is a threat of both dehydration and death. The entire food chain can also be affected. For example, in India alone, 619 million people experienced a heatwave in June 2024.
The local vegetation is also facing danger. Herbivores and predators are being affected as well. In scientific terms, herbivores are animals that satisfy their hunger by eating plants and vegetation, such as cows, deer, and rabbits. Predators are animals that satisfy their hunger by eating other animals, such as lions, foxes, and vultures. Insects and bugs, which are crucial for pollination, are also significantly threatened by extreme heat.
Heatwaves can disrupt their life cycles and reduce their populations. As a result, the rate of pollination will decrease, leading to a corresponding decline in plant reproduction. This will directly affect agricultural productivity and biodiversity on a large scale, causing serious adverse effects in the future.
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower to the female part, enabling fertilisation and leading to the production of seeds and the formation of fruit. Insects like bees, butterflies, and birds are some of the most common pollinators.
Aquatic Ecosystems Under Threat
Aquatic ecosystems are also particularly sensitive to rising temperatures. Scientific theory clearly states that the hotter the water gets, the less oxygen it contains, creating hypoxic conditions that are detrimental to marine life. For example, in the Indonesia, where 231 million people experienced a heatwave in June 2024, coral reefs, which are very sensitive to rising temperatures, are facing the threat of bleaching. Coral reefs are diverse marine ecosystems that provide food and protection to aquatic organisms. Coral bleaching occurs when there are significant changes in temperature, light, or nutrients.
This will not only affect marine biodiversity but will also devastate the livelihoods of people who rely on fishing and tourism. The entire freshwater system is also at risk. Rising temperatures are heating rivers and lakes, affecting various species of fish that typically require cold water to survive. This has been studied in America, where animals dependent on clean water are facing threat due to extreme heatwaves.
The Ripple Effect on Wildlife
Biodiversity across the world is struggling with rising temperatures. Extreme heat is becoming a common problem in countries like Saudi Arabia and Greece. Animal mortality is continuously increasing due to heat stress and dehydration. Recently, the temperature in Saudi Arabia crossed 50℃, causing the local biodiversity to change rapidly and approach the verge of extinction. Migration patterns are also changing quickly because they are constantly being obstructed.
Animals that migrate, breed, and feed according to seasonal conditions are specially facing problems. They are getting confused due to the increased temperature, leading to mismatches in their timing within the entire ecosystem. For example, the breeding times of birds are now either very early or very late, and their offspring are not getting favourable conditions for development.
Davide Faranda, a ClimaMeter researcher at CNRS, France, said: “ClimaMeter’s report highlights that the deadly heat during this year’s Hajj is directly linked to fossil fuel burning and has affected the most vulnerable pilgrims. Immediate action is imperative to safeguard the health and safety of Middle East citizens and pilgrims. Only reducing fossil fuel combustion can prevent reaching critical temperature thresholds and avoid transforming these significant religious events into recurrent tragedies.”
Forests and Deforestation
The large-scale deforestation caused by human activities is also contributing to climate change. Historically and traditionally, forests have played a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance. They protected the local climate of each geographical area and mitigated the threat of extreme heat.
For example, a significant part of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has been affected by extreme heat, leading to an increase in forest fires. This has destroyed a substantial portion of biodiversity and rich habitats. The risk posed to the Amazon rainforest by heatwaves can be understood from an article in DW News, which reported that in March 2024, the temperature in Rio de Janeiro reached up to 62 ℃. This caused heat stress and drought-like conditions throughout the region, leading to increased forest fires, water scarcity, and tree mortality.
The above figures and examples clearly illustrate how the increase in heatwaves due to climate change is having a multi-dimensional effect on biodiversity. The impact on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is evident. There is no doubt that the widespread impact of heatwaves seen globally this time can disturb the ecological balance.
We must rapidly increase our collective efforts to achieve the goals set under the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce global temperatures. As Nobel laureate and former President of the United States Barack Obama said, “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.”