The U.S. Energy Department has declared a power emergency in the Southeast due to extreme heat waves.
Temperatures have crossed 100°F in parts of the Carolinas. The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings across the Eastern U.S., stretching from the Midwest to the East Coast.
Duke Energy Corporation, which serves North and South Carolina, has been authorised to run power plants at full capacity, even if it breaches air pollution limits.
In New York, blackouts were reported due to surging demand. Electricity usage has also spiked across the Southeast US.
The surge in temperatures has been attributed to climatic phenomenon called a heat dome. It occurs when high pressure in the upper atmosphere traps heat and humidity, increasing temperatures in the lower atmosphere.
As extreme weather events grow more frequent, countries worldwide are under pressure to balance rising electricity demand with environmental limits.
But the burden isn’t equal. The Global South faces disproportionate challenges: weaker infrastructure, limited energy access, and rising heat exposure make climate adaptation even harder and expensive. While advanced economies can activate the emergency measures, vulnerable nations often lack the capacity to respond swiftly.
Can our power systems keep up with a warming planet?
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: The article has reference to open sources including the Reuters, Mint, and Financial Post.