Dire Heat Waves: South Sudan’s Climate Crisis Exacerbated by Global Warming

The impact of climate change is severely felt in South Sudan, as recent heat waves have been made at least ten times more likely due to human-induced global warming. Amidst years of conflict and food insecurity, this crisis threatens the health of vulnerable populations, particularly children.

 

In February 2025, South Sudan experienced a severe heat wave that left many students in distress, leading to the closure of schools for two weeks in the capital, Juba. This incident marked the second time in less than a year that educational institutions had to shut down in response to dangerously high temperatures. According to a report by World Weather Attribution, the climate crisis—primarily driven by emissions from wealthier nations—has rendered at least one week of this extreme heat 10 times more probable and increased temperatures by approximately 2 degrees Celsius.

Recent weather measurements noted that certain areas of South Sudan reached astonishing highs of over 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) towards the end of February. The analysis, while still awaiting peer review, employs standardized methodologies that combine climate models with observational weather data.

South Sudan's troubled past, marked by a civil war and the struggle for independence from Sudan in 2011, has hindered its capacity to tackle environmental crises. Notably, the nation contributes negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions yet bears a disproportionate burden of climate change's adverse effects. Joyce Kimutai, an environmental policy researcher at Imperial College London, emphasizes that although African countries contribute a small fraction to global emissions, they are among the first to suffer from climate-related disasters.

Heat waves remain amongst the most lethal manifestations of extreme weather, and their growing frequency and intensity can be attributed to rising global temperatures. The mortality rates linked to such heat events can vary significantly by region, often leading to underreported fatalities that may take months to be accurately documented.

The recent extreme weather is particularly perilous for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Over the past few weeks, severe heat has also affected large areas of Eastern Africa, including regions in Kenya and Uganda. Authorities have urged people to stay indoors and stay hydrated, but this advice proves challenging in nations where outdoor labor is commonplace, electricity is unreliable, and many struggle to access potable water or effective cooling systems.