Climate change making haj hotter, less safe: Study
A recent study indicates that climate change is making the annual haj pilgrimage increasingly dangerous due to rising temperatures. The haj, held in Mecca, is now often conducted in conditions exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, which poses significant risks to the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Researchers warn that the safe window for the pilgrimage is shrinking, with extreme heat extending into historically cooler months.
- ▪The haj pilgrimage is now often held in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
- ▪A study found that average temperatures in Mecca have increased by about 3.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times.
- ▪The timing of the haj is governed by the Islamic lunar calendar, moving back about 11 days each year in the Gregorian calendar.
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| Original publisher | Straits Times — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/climate-change-making-haj-hotter-less-safe-study |
| Publication time | Fri, 29 May 2026 07:34:00 +0800 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-28T23:39:38.354Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-28T23:39:38.354Z |
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Climate change making haj hotter, less safe: StudySign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox2026’s haj gathering was again held in temperatures exceeding 40 deg C.PHOTO: REUTERSPublished May 29, 2026, 07:34 AMUpdated May 29, 2026, 07:34 AMMECCA - Climate change is gradually shrinking the times of year when the annual Muslim haj pilgrimage can take place in safe weather conditions, according to a new study published on May 29.The haj in western Saudi Arabia, one of the most arid areas on the planet, is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are exposed to extreme heat.2026’s gathering was again held in temperatures exceeding 40 deg C.According to the study by the Britain-based group World Weather Attribution, temperatures…
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