Record-breaking July with a series of disasters
In July, the average temperature of the Earth reached a historic high, many disasters such as storms, forest fires, floods, also occurred.
In July, the average temperature of the Earth reached a historic high, many disasters such as storms, forest fires, floods, also occurred.
People cool off under a fountain at Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Spain, on July 23.
Human-caused climate change is to blame for the heatwaves, fueled by activities such as coal burning and deforestation, according to Climate Central’s analysis of global temperature extremes. The average temperature for July was 17.01 degrees Celsius (61.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest in 175 years of records kept by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1.21 degrees Celsius (2.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 20th-century average.
In the US, the average July temperature was 24.3 degrees Celsius, the 11th highest in the past 130 years. Las Vegas recorded an all-time high of 49 degrees Celsius on July 7. Meanwhile, in Washington DC, July 17 marked the fourth consecutive day with temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius, tying the city's previous record for consecutive days with such high temperatures.
The monthly report from NOAA also said that 2024 now has a 77% chance of being the hottest year on record and is definitely in the top five. Africa, Europe and Asia all recorded their hottest July on record, while North America had its second-warmest July.
NOAA's figures differ from those of the European Union's climate change monitoring agency Copernicus, which uses a different set of data and calculates that this year's average July temperature was the second-highest on record, slightly lower than July 2023. However, both agencies agree on the alarming trend of record heat.
According to NOAA, July ocean temperatures were the second warmest on record, tying with Copernicus. Last week, Copernicus scientists noted that air temperatures over the ocean remained unusually high in many areas despite the transition from the El Nino weather pattern (which contributes to global warming) to the opposite La Nina weather pattern (which has a cooling effect).
Tourists at Death Valley National Park - the hottest and driest place in the United States.
Rising temperatures also create conditions for storm systems to become more intense and frequent. Warmer weather means more water evaporates, fueling tropical systems that form and intensify in areas with warmer-than-average ocean surface temperatures. Higher temperatures also lead to worse droughts, which can fuel wildfires.
Climate change has fueled a rash of extreme weather events in recent weeks. In Cape Town, South Africa, thousands of people were evacuated due to heavy rains, strong winds, flooding and other disasters. On July 7, heavy rains triggered landslides on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, killing more than 10 people. Japanese authorities said more than 120 people died during a record heat wave in Tokyo last month.
Hurricane Beryl set several meteorological records, primarily for its formation and intensity, such as being the strongest hurricane to develop in the Atlantic Main Development Region (MDR) before July and the earliest Category 5 hurricane to reach Saffir-Simpson scale status. Beryl caused catastrophic damage when it made landfall three times in one week, first on the island nation of Grenada on July 1, then on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, on July 5, and finally on Texas, USA, on July 8.
In California, USA, more than 13,000 people were evacuated on July 2-3 due to a serious wildfire called the Thompson Fire. On July 24, the Park Fire broke out and became the fourth largest fire in the state's history, covering an area of more than 1,600 square kilometers.
In the US, from January to the end of July 2024, the number of weather and climate events costing over $1 billion was 19, second only to the period January - July 2023. This year alone, the US has had at least 149 deaths due to these events with total losses reaching more than $49.6 billion.
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Inside Trump's $11 Billion Health Plan to Replace “Neo-Colonial” USAID
In the landscape of global health aid, few proposals have stirred as much debate as former President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to restructure American assistance abroad. Dubbed an $11 billion health initiative aimed at replacing USAID’s current framework, the plan seeks to pivot away from what Trump and his allies have criticized as the “neo-colonial” approach of U.S. foreign aid. While the plan promises greater efficiency and impact, experts are split on whether it is a practical solution or a politically driven gamble. Trump’s Critique of USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been a central pillar of American foreign assistance, distributing billions in aid annually to address health crises, food insecurity, and development challenges worldwide. However, Trump’s administration and its supporters have often described USAID’s approach as bureaucratic, inefficient, and reflective of a “neo-colonial” mindset. In public statements, Trump argued that the U.S. was spending taxpayer dollars on programs that benefited foreign governments or contractors more than the intended local communities. Critics of the plan say that while USAID has flaws—as any large bureaucracy does—its extensive networks and decades of experience provide an unmatched capacity to deliver aid efficiently and safely. The Core of the $11 Billion Proposal At the heart of Trump’s proposal is an $11 billion fund designed to consolidate, modernize, and streamline U.S. health aid. Unlike the traditional USAID model, which relies heavily on long-term partnerships with governments and NGOs, the new plan emphasizes: Direct Impact Funding: Allocating resources to frontline health workers and local initiatives rather than intermediaries. Data-Driven Investments: Using real-time health data to target outbreaks and crises more efficiently. Private Sector Partnerships: Leveraging U.S. pharmaceutical companies, tech firms, and healthcare startups to deliver vaccines, treatments, and medical infrastructure. Shorter Program Cycles: Moving away from multi-year funding commitments in favor of more flexible, results-oriented programs. Proponents argue that this approach could reduce bureaucratic overhead and ensure U.S. aid reaches communities faster. By “cutting out the middlemen,” Trump supporters claim, America can avoid the pitfalls of slow-moving aid programs that sometimes fail to adapt to crises. Reactions from the Global Health Community Global health experts, however, have expressed concern about both the logistics and philosophy of the plan. Dr. Melissa Ortega, a senior researcher at the Global Health Policy Institute, explained, “The idea of bypassing established structures like USAID may sound appealing on paper, but in practice, it risks undermining decades of institutional knowledge. Health systems are complex, and short-term projects cannot replace long-term capacity building.” Some critics have also questioned the characterization of USAID as “neo-colonial.” While U.S. foreign aid has historically been tied to geopolitical interests, many programs today are designed collaboratively with recipient countries and local organizations. Reducing oversight could unintentionally increase the risk of misuse, corruption, or health inequities. On the other hand, supporters of Trump’s plan point to examples of inefficiency in USAID programs, citing cases where aid was delayed or mismanaged. By introducing more direct funding models, they argue, U.S. taxpayer dollars could achieve a higher “return on health outcomes.” Political Implications Trump’s health aid overhaul proposal is not just about international development—it is also deeply political. Framing USAID as a “neo-colonial” institution resonates with a populist narrative that America should prioritize its own citizens and assert greater control over how taxpayer money is spent abroad. Domestically, the $11 billion plan faces scrutiny from Congress. Lawmakers from both parties have questioned whether dismantling USAID’s systems could destabilize ongoing health programs in countries where the U.S. has long-term commitments. The potential impact on global health security—including the fight against pandemics like COVID-19—adds another layer of concern. Internationally, U.S. allies and partner nations are watching closely. Sudden shifts in aid delivery could disrupt health programs in low- and middle-income countries, many of which rely on predictable funding cycles to maintain vaccination campaigns, maternal health services, and disease surveillance. Possible Benefits and Risks If executed carefully, the Trump-backed model could bring several benefits: Faster Response Times: Direct funding could accelerate delivery of vaccines, treatments, and emergency support. Innovation Boost: By partnering with private sector companies, the plan could accelerate development of new health technologies. Accountability: With performance-based metrics, the plan may better measure the impact of U.S. aid. However, the risks are equally significant: Disruption of Existing Programs: Abrupt changes could destabilize ongoing health projects. Loss of Expertise: USAID’s decades of experience in navigating local governance, supply chains, and community engagement may be hard to replace. Geopolitical Fallout: Allies accustomed to collaborating with USAID might see the move as destabilizing, reducing cooperation on global health initiatives. Looking Ahead As Trump and his allies continue to advocate for this $11 billion overhaul, the debate over the future of U.S. health aid is intensifying. Proponents view it as a necessary modernization of an outdated system, while critics fear it could undercut decades of carefully built infrastructure and global partnerships. Ultimately, the success of this plan will hinge on its ability to balance efficiency with stability, innovation with oversight, and political objectives with humanitarian needs. For now, the proposal remains controversial, representing a dramatic departure from traditional approaches to U.S. foreign aid. Whether it will reshape global health for the better—or simply create more uncertainty—remains to be seen. In the end, the Trump health plan is as much about ideology as it is about dollars. It challenges the conventional wisdom of international development and asks whether a more streamlined, results-focused approach can truly replace a system built over decades. As the world watches, the stakes could not be higher: the future of U.S. global health aid—and the lives it touches—hangs in the balance.
By Muhammad Hassan2 days ago in Earth
Comments (1)
July was always like that. Terrible.