Most individuals globally endured elevated temperatures during July last year, a phenomenon linked to climate change, according to recent findings.

Last month, historic heatwaves scorched various regions across the globe, including the southern United States, southern European countries like Italy and Greece, the Middle East, parts of South and Southeast Asia, and small island developing states, particularly in the Caribbean.

According to a report released by Climate Central, July 2022 was the hottest July ever recorded. The average global temperature reached a staggering 17.08°C (62.74°F) on July 6, marking the hottest day ever recorded. However, the report did not provide specific information about this record-breaking day.

The report calculated climate change attribution assessments for 4,700 cities across 200 countries, revealing that over 6.5 billion people, approximately 81% of the global population, experienced a hotter July. In fact, during each day of July 2022, 2 billion people worldwide experienced at least the same level of climate change influence on their local temperatures.

Gabriel Vecchi, a Princeton University climate scientist, stated that the heat experienced by the vast majority of people on the planet in July was a taste of global warming's impact on extreme heat. People living near the equator and small island developing states, including 11 in the Caribbean, experienced the strongest influence of anthropogenic climate change on temperatures.

The study found that areas experiencing the strongest influence of anthropogenic climate change on temperatures included small island developing states. The Caribbean countries with the largest populations among the 11 most temperature-affected by climate change according to the Climate Central study include Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

The report indicates that climate change played a significant role in the extreme heat experienced by billions of people worldwide during July 2022. The global mean surface air temperature for the first 23 days of July 2022 stood at 16.95°C.

Climate change is mainly caused by the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels, according to the report. The report concludes that more than four out of every five people on the planet faced climate change-attributed heat last month.

The Climate Shift Index (CSI) for July 1-31, 2023, indicates how climate change has altered daily high, low, and average temperatures at various locations. CSI Level 3 indicates that human-caused climate change made temperatures at least three times more likely.

Despite the report not providing details about the specific regions that experienced historic heatwaves other than those mentioned, it is clear that the world is witnessing the devastating effects of climate change. The hotter-than-usual July was primarily attributed to climate change, according to researchers. As we move forward, it is crucial to address the root causes of climate change and take decisive action to mitigate its impact.