Hong Kong Swelters Through Record-Breaking Summer Heat

Hong Kong has just experienced its hottest summer on record this year, with the city witnessing “unprecedented” temperatures, as reported by the government on Monday. This marks another instance of a region feeling the effects of a warming planet.

Climate change has driven extreme heat worldwide this year, with India, Japan, and Australia all recently announcing new temperature records.

In Hong Kong, which is a semi-autonomous Chinese region, officials announced on Monday that, “along with the exceptionally high temperatures in June and July, Hong Kong has now witnessed its hottest summer on record from June to August 2023.” Last month, the city recorded an average temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the hottest August ever recorded according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

This year also witnessed the third-warmest July and the fourth-warmest June since records began in 1884. Strikingly, the top three warmest years in Hong Kong’s history all occurred after 2018.

Additionally, August was much drier than usual, with only 140.7 millimeters (5.5 inches) of rainfall, according to the Observatory.

Globally, temperature records have been falling in recent years, reflecting the increased volatility in meteorological conditions driven by climate change. Earlier in the summer, Beijing recorded a record-breaking temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.98 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.

Scientists emphasize that global warming, linked to our reliance on fossil fuels, is responsible for the intensification of heatwaves. Climate change has also amplified the intensity of tropical storms, resulting in more rainfall and stronger gusts, which in turn lead to flash floods and coastal damage, according to experts.

Over the weekend, Hong Kong was affected by Super Typhoon Saola but fortunately escaped major damage.

While Hong Kong authorities have highlighted the need to protect workers from heat stress, they have not yet implemented new legal protections in this regard.