Researchers Warn of Significant Temperature Increase in Afghanistan and Other Countries

Researchers at the University of East Anglia in Britain have found that by 2050 or even earlier, warming levels in some countries, including Afghanistan, could rise by up to 2 degrees Celsius, a level that could make living in certain areas difficult or impossible.

The study examined weather trends, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental factors, including biodiversity, across 104 cities worldwide. Findings indicate that cities in tropical and subtropical climates will be hit hardest, with at least 81% warming much faster than surrounding urban areas under a predicted 2-degree Celsius global increase.

Afghanistan is listed alongside China, India, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, the United States, Brazil, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Angola, Mexico, and Thailand. Cities in monsoon-affected regions, such as those in China, India, and parts of West Africa, face heightened risks. Specific cities expected to become particularly harsh in summer include Jalandhar and Patiala in India, Fuyang and Shangqiu in China, Kirkuk in Iraq, and Asyut in Egypt.

Even if global warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius on average, some cities could exceed 3 degrees. Annual temperatures in these areas may rise nearly 1 degree more than nearby urban zones, with stark effects during summer peaks.

Professor Manoj Joshi of the University of East Anglia stated: "The increase in urban heat levels under climate change is a growing concern." He noted the research supports better planning for future warming's impacts on human health and urban environments, warning of serious health consequences like increased mortality from extreme heat.

The United Nations has previously cautioned that global warming will reach or exceed the 2-degree threshold.