India's April heatwaves were 30 times more likely due to climate change - PTI/Hindu Businessline

Human-caused climate change made April's record-breaking heatwaves in Bangladesh, India, Laos, and Thailand at least 30 times more likely, according to an analysis conducted by a group of leading climate scientists.

The study by World Weather Attribution also emphasises that the region's high vulnerability, known as a heatwave hotspot, exacerbated the impacts of the heatwave.

During April, parts of south and southeast Asia faced an intense heatwave, reaching unprecedented temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius in Laos and 45 degrees Celsius in Thailand.

This extreme heat resulted in widespread hospitalisations, infrastructure damage, wildfires, and school closures. The exact number of fatalities is currently unknown.

Climate change has globally intensified heatwaves, making them more frequent, longer lasting, and hotter. To assess the impact of climate change on the Asian heatwave, scientists analysed weather data and computer model simulations, comparing the current climate, with approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming since the late 1800s, to historical climate conditions using peer-reviewed methodologies.

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