The world's hottest city has become 'unliveable' and even the streets have air-con
| Published date | 17 March 2024 |
| Author | Joseph Gamp |
| Publication title | EdinburghLive (Scotland) |
In 2021, the temperature gauge exceeded 50C for 19 days, indicating that Kuwait is heating up faster than the global average. Climate scientists predict that by the end of the century, temperatures could rise by an additional 5.5C.
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Despite being slightly smaller than Wales and home to around 4.4 million people, Kuwait boasts the seventh-largest oil reserves in the world.
However, the country's climate is becoming increasingly harsh. Annual rainfall is decreasing, leading to more frequent and intense dust storms, reports the Mirror.
There have been reports of birds falling dead from the sky and seahorses boiling in the bay. Even the smartest pigeons are seeking shade to escape the heat.
The Express.co.uk reports that temperatures of 50C, which is halfway to the boiling point of water and 13C above body temperature, can be harmful to humans. Long exposure can lead to heat exhaustion, heart problems and even death.
Kuwait City, known for its concrete and asphalt, is becoming unliveable due to this extreme heat. Local date merchant Abdullah Ashkanani told AFP that excessive energy use had "brought this heat to Kuwait."
For the first time this year, the Kuwaiti government has allowed funerals to take place at night. Once a bustling trade and fishing centre known as the "Marseilles of the Gulf", Kuwait City's identity has been shaped by the discovery of oil in the 1930s.
Nowadays, those who are wealthy from oil and others who can afford it rarely go outside, choosing instead to enjoy the coolness of air conditioning in their homes, offices or shopping centres. There's even an entire indoor shopping street filled with palm trees and boutiques styled like those in Europe.
A study from 2020 found that a whopping two-thirds (67%) of all electricity used in homes is thought to come from air conditioning units running non-stop. Joshua Wood, writing for ExpatsExchange, describes life in Kuwait as "modern, luxurious and safe" but warns that it gets "very hot from May through September" and is "insanely hot" in June, July and August.
The streets of...
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