Taylor Swift's Brazil Concerts: Heat Wave, Tragedy, and Climate Crisis

A brutal heat wave in Brazil has forced Taylor Swift to reschedule a concert in Rio de Janeiro. The searing temperatures, which have set numerous temperature records, are attributed to climate change. The World Weather Attribution Network found that human-induced global warming increased the odds of such extreme heat. The past 12 months have been the hottest in modern history, and the effects of El Niño are contributing to heightened temperatures in Brazil. Many households in the country lack technology to cool their homes, and only 20% owned air conditioning in 2018. Climate activists are urging Swift to use her platform to raise awareness about the risks of a warming planet and the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption.