China experienced its hottest month since records began in July

Extreme heatwaves are hitting all corners of the world. July was the hottest month on record in China since temperature records began, state media reported on Thursday (August 1). The national average temperature in July was 23.21°C, compared with 23.17°C in the previous record in 2017, state broadcaster CCTV said, calling July the “hottest month”the warmest since full records began in 1961″The figures come on a day when a red heatwave alert is in effect in Shanghai. In the middle of the afternoon, 39.9°C was recorded locally in the Chinese economic capital.

High temperatures in China are not unusual in summer, especially in the arid west and south of the country. In the north, residents of the capital Beijing are also accustomed to the heat at this time of year. But the country has been facing extreme weather events and locally unusual temperatures in recent months. All of these phenomena are exacerbated by climate change, scientists say.

Since the 19th century, the Earth’s average temperature warmed by 1.1°C. Scientists have established with certainty that this increase is due to human activities, consumers of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). This warming, unprecedented in its speed, threatens the future of our societies and biodiversity. But solutions – renewable energies, moderation, reduction of meat consumption – exist. Discover our answers to your questions on the climate crisis.