Is there a link between hot weather and crime? | DW News

Last month was the hottest June ever measured - breaking last year's global record. And as heatwaves continue into July, people in many countries are feeling the effects.
Doctors warn that extreme heat can be fatal.
Heat causes more deaths worldwide than any other weather-related factor. And due to climate change, more and more people all over the globe are being regularly exposed to sustained high temperatures. That has both physical and mental effects.

Chapters
00:00 Extreme heat a threat to human health
01:51 Robin Cooper, Department of Psychiatry at the University of California
09:00 Jeff Goodell, Author of the book 'The Heat Will Kill You First'

Follow DW on social media:

[lesliespeaker]

It's happening now. The future that some people still won't believe in is already here.

[amilaperera]

Stop burning fossil fuel : Let’s talk about climate justice

[amilaperera]

Heat goes after vulnerable people first

[WoJackHorseman]

There’s a simpler explanation for why crime levels rise in the heat: more opportunity. During winter, fewer people are outside, fewer events occur, and daylight is shorter. Crime tends to be lower when people spend more time at home and interact less. In summer, people are out and about more, leading to more interactions and a higher probability of crime

[catmom]

There are many studies that link heat and crime

[WeylandLabs]

2025: Breaks another record !
2026: Breaks another record !
2027: Breaks another record !
2028: Breaks another record !
2029: Breaks another record !
2030: Breaks another record !

Older people in power really dont care about you !

[kut]

Not really. Although there is a MUCH stronger link between immigration and crime.

[lessparks]

'its not the fire that kills
It's the heat'

[jonr]

Is there a link between economic growth and climate? Can you grow crops in a desert?

[MaryBeth]

I love cool weather, but I don't go nuts in the summer. I just don't enjoy hot weather, at all. Bring on autumn breezes 😊 🍁

[godzillagus]

Short answer is yes and that's when the Predator goes hunting.

[Just_another_Euro_dude]

There's winter depression that sometimes could make you even cry, all alone at night. But there's summer anxiety that could make you go bonkers. Not so much depressed as bonkers, nuts, mad, crazy. All year round spring is only in paradise, unfortunately.

[DSAK]

You will remember this as the coolest June for the rest of your life

[jonr]

Riots are known to be more ommon in heat waves. Young men with nothing to do but hang around outside & now they have smartphones to coordinate flashmobs. It's not just crime like theft.

[melusine]

DV increases - given that its 90%+ men perpetrating, women are in even more danger

[queen_of_green]

It was the coolest June I've experienced in Spain in 13 years of living here. And half way through July, it's the coolest summer, we've had in years!!

[pulendrob]

I'm just struggling on 36° now...just checking Kuwait... I'm lucky now.

[vladnickul]

I remember as a kid in the 90s even in early 2000 we switched on the AC just a few days a year. so much so we ended actually tacking it off.
in the last days we had even at night time temps at 30C at night, in a capital in eastern Europe and we live in some of the most densely "forested" part of the city.
The "city center"/ "old town" is just horrid is just like the middle east every breeze brings hot air and dust.

I like it. if covid did not take enough of us to change anything to good maybe the heat will.

[ANTheWhizkid]

Last week we were having 16 degrees Celsius. Now we finally have a few warm days and still none without rain. It rained since the beginning of this year. Greetings from Central Europe.

[HelloPeep-iicu]

Chicago already established that there's a link