Climate crisis turns Hajj heat risk into year‑round danger, study finds

A World Weather Attribution study says fossil-fuel driven warming has made Mecca much hotter, with 40C heat now occurring in May and temperatures for Hajj becoming dangerous outside traditional summer. Without a rapid shift away from fossil fuels, nearly all future Hajj periods could face dangerous heat, potentially affecting millions of pilgrims; 1,300 heat-related deaths occurred in 2024. Saudi authorities have implemented cooling measures, but researchers warn they are insufficient without deeper emissions cuts.