Kuwait City, once celebrated as a picturesque Gulf hub, now stands as a terrifying testament to the brutal reality of climate change, with temperatures so extreme they are literally cooking marine life and forcing drastic human adaptations.
A City Transformed by Scorching Heat
Historical charm has been replaced by a stark battle for survival. The city, previously known as the 'Marseilles of the Gulf' for its vibrant fishing trade and beautiful beaches, now grapples with the possibility of becoming uninhabitable. The most shocking illustration of this new reality came on 21 July 2016, when the Mitribah weather station recorded a staggering 54°C (129°F). This made Kuwait the third hottest place on Earth, a full 10 degrees Celsius higher than the peak of Europe's recent Cerberus heatwave.
Scientists project a grim future, forecasting that temperatures in this desert nation could rise by up to 5.5°C (10°F) by 2100 compared to early 2000s levels. The trend is already clear: in 2023, the mercury soared above 50°C on 19 separate days.
Devastating Impact on Life and Landscape
The consequences are both visceral and heartbreaking. Urban sprawl has created a maze of concrete and tarmac that bakes under the sun, creating zones of deadly heat. Birds fall lifeless from the sky, and in a particularly distressing phenomenon, seahorses have been found boiled alive in the bay. Even resilient pigeons scramble for any patch of shade.
The human cost is severe. When temperatures hit 50°C – 13°C higher than normal human body temperature – the risk of heat exhaustion and cardiac issues skyrockets. In a unprecedented move, authorities have permitted nighttime burials to protect the living from the oppressive daytime heat. The affluent retreat to climate-controlled environments, while the city has responded with architectural innovations like an indoor shopping street designed as a European-style refuge.
Energy Dependence and Inequality in the Heat
The crisis is exacerbated by soaring energy demands, primarily for air conditioning, which accounts for two-thirds of household electricity use. Government subsidies on power offer little incentive for conservation, and demand is predicted to triple by 2030. This reliance creates a colossal carbon footprint, surpassed in the region only by Bahrain and Qatar.
Yet, the burden of the heat is not shared equally. Migrant workers, constituting around 70% of the population and employed in construction and domestic service, are exceptionally vulnerable. They fill sweltering public buses and work outdoors. A 2023 study by the Institute of Physics warned that non-Kuwaitis could face up to a 15% increase in heat-related deaths by the century's end due to climate change.
Despite the visible crisis, Kuwait's climate commitments lag. At COP26, the nation pledged a modest 7.4% reduction in emissions by 2035, a target dwarfed by neighbours' ambitions. Environmental expert Salman Zafar warns of impending floods, droughts, coastal inundation, and biodiversity loss. Kuwait City's ordeal is no longer a future warning; it is a present-day, urgent alarm.
