📩 10/07/2023 15:43
Scientific Committee Member of the Climate Clinic opened by Yuvam World Association in cooperation with Koç University and Hacettepe University. Dr. Levent Kurnaz stated that the temperature record broken in 2023 can be repeated at a high level in 2024.
prof. Dr. Emine Didem Evci Kiraz, on the other hand, said that UVR rays can increase the types of cancer that can affect many parts of the body, especially the eye. The climate crisis continues to affect the world in every field. Global health organizations have declared the man-made climate crisis to be a major threat to public health.
The average temperature of the world reached 3 degrees on July 17, breaking the temperature record. While the effects of the climate crisis, which is one of the causes of heat, on health continue to be devastating, the frequency and severity of adverse events will continue to increase in the coming years. While extreme weather events, air pollution, water-borne diseases, vector-borne diseases, food insecurity and nutritional disorders trigger mental health problems; It also poses a threat to healthcare and healthcare systems.
“We had the hottest June in 2023”
Scientific Committee Member of the Climate Clinic opened by Yuvam World Association in cooperation with Koç University and Hacettepe University. Dr. Levent Kurnaz said, “Due to global warming, our atmosphere is getting warmer. If the earth were completely flat and only covered with land, this warming would show itself little by little every year. However, the fact that the earth is covered with land and sea and has vegetation creates a natural variability in temperature. It is mostly the changes in the currents in the oceans that create this difference. When the waters of the Pacific Ocean are warmer than normal, it is called an el Nino, and it causes global temperatures to be normally high as well. Similarly, la Nina also results in lower-than-normal temperatures. There has been a strong la Nina effect in the Pacific Ocean for the past three years. In other words, temperatures were not felt as high as caused by global warming. The La Nina effect ended in the spring of 2023. This has caused us to see the effects of global warming as it is. That's why the earth had a very hot June month," he said.
“2024 may be the hottest year in history”
Kurnaz continued his words as follows; “Just at the beginning of July, we broke global temperature records two days in a row. On July 3, the global average temperature was 17,01℃, and on July 4, it increased even more to 17,18℃. The previous highest temperature was 24℃, measured on July 2022, 13 and August 2016, 16,92. However, let's not forget that we have not yet begun to see the El Nino, the period when the temperatures will exceed the average increase, but when we start to see that effect gradually, these record temperatures will continue to increase. It is already possible to say that 2024 may be the hottest year in history," he said, drawing attention to the increase in temperature.
July is designated Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) Safety Month
Climate Clinic Scientific Committee Member Prof. Dr. Emine Didem Evci Kiraz, on the other hand, stated that July is Ultraviolet Radiation Safety Month and said, “July, which most of us determine as a holiday month, is celebrated as Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) Safety Awareness Month in the USA. During the UVR Safety Awareness Month, activities are held to ensure that the society has a healthier and safer contact with the sun. UVR is radiation from the sun. It helps the body to produce vitamin D. And also; It has side effects ranging from skin aging to cancer, according to wavelengths. UVR causes corneal, lens and retinal damage in the eye. Unprotected sun exposure, especially in infants and childhood, increases the risk of the above-mentioned ones throughout life. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (UKAA) reported in 2009 that UVR is carcinogenic to humans at wavelengths between 100-400 nm. Malignant melanoma is one of the skin cancers that is increasing in the world due to UVR.
Consult your family doctor for sunscreen creams.
Kiraz listed the suggestions for individual protection from the effects of ultraviolet radiation as follows; “According to the Sun Protection Factor (SPF), you can protect yourself from the effects of ultraviolet radiation by using personal protectors such as sunglasses, sunscreen products that can be applied to the skin, clothes, hats. While taking these precautions, it is of great importance to request SPF information from the institutions and organizations from which you provide your personal protective equipment. You should not buy sunscreen products that can be applied to the skin without consulting your family doctor. It is very important to create shades in areas such as bus stops, offices, playgrounds, hospitals, schools, elderly homes, residences, walking and cycling paths, picnic areas, beaches. In order to access this information, it is necessary to request the establishment of public health early warning systems from your local administrations and the delivery of these interests to you. You can access UVI information from the World Meteorological Organization and the Turkish Meteorology General Directorate. Digital platforms have UVI tracking systems.” he said.