Interview: Exploring China's strategies for handling increased and severe heat situations

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that the frequency and intensity of hot extremes have increased across the world since 1950, with human-caused greenhouse gas emissions identified as the main driver. This trend is particularly evident in China, where the warming rate is higher than the global average.

China's meteorological stations recorded an average of 16.4 hot days in 2022, a significant increase from the average for 1991-2020. Over the past decade, hundreds of local heat records have been surpassed, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). The CMA defines a "hot day" or "high temperature day" as one that reaches or exceeds 35°C.

In 2022 and 2024, the highest temperatures recorded in cities such as Jian, Shahe, Nangong, Xingtai, and Handan were notably around 37–38 °C. In 2025, an unprecedented number of "hot days" were reported between mid-March and mid-July, with more than 1,000 meteorological stations in China reporting heatwaves, and 441 breaking "historical records".

The extreme high temperatures in China have shown an "increasing trend" since records began in 1961. This has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather and climate events, posing a significant challenge to various sectors. Sectors such as the extractive industries, construction, and non-metallic manufacturing could see the highest losses of about 4.6-6.4% of their value-added.

In response to these challenges, China has been implementing policies aimed at adapting to heatwaves. These include weather forecasts and alerts, labor policies aimed at protecting workers against extreme heat, and sending text warnings of heatwaves to its residents. In 2025, the National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention and the China Meteorological Administration signed a joint agreement on issuing nationwide health alerts, including heat-health alerts.

The average annual temperature in China is rising, with 2024 being the hottest year on record. This trend is projected to continue under various climate change scenarios. The SSP1-1.9, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios project average global temperature rises of around 1.5°C, 2°C, and 2.5°C by mid-century, respectively.

By 2060, China's heat-induced economic losses could total about 1.5% of total GDP under 1.5°C of global warming, 3% under 2°C of warming and 4.9% under 2.5°C of warming. In early 2025, droughts in China affected more than 11 million people, with more than 1.2 million hectares of crops and direct economic losses topping nearly 8.4 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion).

Last year, the "national climate change health adaptation action plan (2024-30)" was published, which aims to bring together a range of organizations, including hospitals, to form a system related to climate change and health with monitoring and early warning capabilities. This plan underscores China's commitment to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events.

In summary, China is experiencing an increase in hot extremes and extreme weather events, with human-caused greenhouse gas emissions identified as the main driver. The government is taking steps to adapt to these challenges, but the economic costs could be significant if global warming continues unabated.

Interview: Exploring China's strategies for handling increased and severe heat situations