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Recent high temperatures in West Africa and the Sahel, notably Mali, have killed hundreds of people, with academics blaming the excessive heat on human-caused climate change.
Temperatures in Mali topped 48°C last month, with 102 deaths reported by Gabriel Toure Hospital in early April, primarily among the elderly. Scientists say that if humans had not burned fossil fuels and deforested, temperatures would not have risen to such worrisome levels.
According to a study conducted by the World Weather Attribution Group, climate change has caused temperatures in Mali and Burkina Faso to rise by up to 1.5°C, with nights being 2°C warmer on average. They warn that once-rare heatwaves may become more regular as global temperatures rise.
However, the extreme drought in Southern Africa earlier this year is related to the El Niño weather phenomenon rather than climate change.
Researchers believe El Niño, not climate change, was the primary cause of low rainfall in the region from December to February, resulting in cholera outbreaks and crop failures.
These findings underscore the intricate interaction between climate change and extreme weather events, with scientists urging immediate action to limit their impact.
