In brief
A study by World Weather Attribution reveals that climate change has made extreme heat in South Sudan ten times more likely and significantly hotter. Following a severe heat wave that led to school closures, the nation grapples with the impacts of both environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
In February 2025, a severe heat wave struck South Sudan, particularly impacting the capital city, Juba, where numerous students suffered heat-related illnesses, prompting the government to temporarily close schools for two weeks. This incident marks the second school closure within a year due to extreme heat conditions.New research from World Weather Attribution indicates that climate change, primarily driven by fossil fuel consumption in wealthier nations, made at least one week of the recent heat wave ten times more likely. The study also reported an increase in temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius (around 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Some areas experienced unprecedented temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) during the last week of February.Utilizing a combination of climate models, observational data, and weather records, the researchers arrived at these findings, although the study is yet to undergo peer review. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, South Sudan—like many regions in East Africa—is being disproportionately affected by climate change. Joyce Kimutai from the Center for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London highlighted the contradiction that while Africa has contributed minimally to climate change, it suffers severe repercussions.With heat waves recognized as one of the most lethal forms of extreme weather, their frequency and severity have been escalating due to global warming. The difficulty in accurately assessing mortality rates connected to heat events can lead to underreporting, with fatalities often discovered only months later.Extended exposure to high temperatures poses particular risks to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Over the past few weeks, a significant stretch of Eastern Africa, including regions in Kenya and Uganda, has been gripped by extreme heat. Authorities have advised citizens to stay indoors and remain hydrated—a recommendation that proves challenging in regions where outdoor labor is common, electricity is inconsistent, access to clean water is scarce, and homes lack adequate cooling facilities.
