Our planet is heating in unprecedented ways. From Western and Northern Europe, to parts of America, to India and South Korea and even the Arctic, many countries are experiencing record-high temperatures, consistent with the predictions of a climate-changed world. Escalating climate disasters have been increasing since the 1970s. Extreme weather is affecting more and more of us.
Our ever heating, changing, planet is becoming an increasingly risky and sometimes deadly place for us to live. Those who have done least to fuel the crisis are the worst affected, compounding inequality and injustice. What we’re living in is a climate emergency.
Here’s what you can do to survive extreme heat
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If you’re lucky enough to have it, drink plenty of water
Water shortages in Brazil.
Even when you don’t feel thirsty, drink plenty of water. Your body needs water to keep cool. Alcohol, tea, coffee, and sugary drinks or sodas can make dehydration worse so try to limit consumption. Eat small snacks, rather than large meals. If you can choose fruit, salad, and non-meat and dairy options, do it (of course, because industrial animal agriculture is one of the main driving forces behind the climate crisis that we’re facing right now). If you have pets (particularly those in fur), ensure they have easy access to cool water and have plenty of shade if outside.
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Slow down
A monkey in Beijing Zoo when temperatures reached 42ºC
Avoid strenuous activity (unless it’s peacefully protesting the climate breakdown). When the body heats too quickly to cool itself safely, or when you lose too much fluid or salt by sweating, your body temperature rises and heat-related illness may develop. Slow down in the way humanity needs to slow down consumption in order to get out of this mess.
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Stay cool
Sitting in the shade of the coconut trees.
Stay indoors if you can. Close your blinds or curtains in the morning to keep the house cool. Use a fan, ideally running on green energy. Take cold showers, or use a damp cloth to cool off. If you need to go outside, stay in the shade. Find a tree. If you can’t find one, plant one. If you can’t plant one, join the fight to protect the forests we have. Trees make cities cooler and capture and store the carbon that is likely exacerbating the heatwave you’re in.
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Dress for the heat
The opposite of how to dress in a heatwave.
Wear light airy clothing made from natural fibres, and stay away from fast fashion disposable clothes that pollute waterways. Put on a hat or use an umbrella, wear sunscreen, and take water with you to avoid single-use plastic.
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Get connected and stay connected
Organised demonstrations are a great place to meet people.
Check on people who are especially vulnerable. If you’re one of them, make sure there’s someone who can help you if you need assistance or feel unwell. Your support network could be family, friends, workmates, and neighbours. Follow weather forecasts and listen to public radio for warnings, to avoid the worst. Write down your important numbers. In every corner of the planet, we’re all in this together. Join in the global fight against climate change.
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Get organised to survive
School strikers in Berlin know!
Talk to your doctor if you feel concerned about heat impacts. Look at the things you can do to make your home cooler such as installing awnings or shade cloths. Stock up on supplies you might need. Share them, if you can. Join an organisation that’s working on stopping the climate crisis. Organise a local group. Rally outside your local halls of power. We need everyone to organise if we’re going to stop this. This isn’t just about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting everyone.
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Reconsider the need to drive
New Delhi, India, campaigning for clean, healthy air.
Not only are cars dependent on air-polluting fossil fuels, they can become dangerous hot boxes. The temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Never leave a child or an animal in a hot car, because they could die. If possible, we recommend that you ditch your car altogether and use public transport instead.
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Promote solutions
Celebrating International Day of Forests in Jakarta
Plant trees to cool your streets, and plant flowers to save bees. The only way we can really survive is if we keep shifting our communities towards more sustainable futures. Whether it be eating more local plant-based foods, avoiding plastic and recycling, or organising a local action group to advocate for renewable energy, there are so many things you can do to help cool the planet.
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Stay calm and be hopeful
50,000 people demonstrating to protect the Hambach forest in Germany
The climate breakdown is scary for everyone, but there’s still hope! There are plenty of examples of how people created disruptive change within a short amount of time. If you’re able to make changes you’re one of the lucky ones, and what you do is a powerful act for millions of people suffering drought or food insecurity, who have limited options. Remember, whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone. Positive change is happening, and together we have the power to make things change faster.
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Protest, protest, protest
School strike for climate. Fridays for Future.
Challenge the fossil fuel companies who are fuelling this crisis. Challenge the industries cutting down forests and destroying our chance at turning this catastrophe around. Demand climate justice. Stand up with young people striking from school. Has your country declared a climate emergency yet? Lobby them until they do. Has your city, bank, or insurance company divested yet? Let them know that you need them to, or change to services that have. We need to start acting like our house is on fire, because it is.
Marie Bout is a content editor with Greenpeace International, and is currently in Paris surviving the heatwave.
It’s time for all of us to assert our rights, demand climate justice, and a dignified way of life.
