Rising Heat Makes the Hajj Pilgrimage More Dangerous

Global warming has fundamentally changed the climate of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A new scientific analysis reveals that the city is becoming significantly hotter. This shift is exposing millions of Muslims who travel for the hajj to extreme and dangerous heat. This danger exists even in months that were historically cooler than the summer season.

The study found that carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels have caused temperatures to rise sharply. In May, which is usually a moderate month, scorching temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) are now experienced regularly. In past decades, such extreme heat peaks would only have occurred during the summer months. The researchers warn that if the world does not quickly stop using fossil fuels, the hajj could take place in dangerous heat for nearly the entire year by the end of this century.

Saudi Arabia plays a complex role in this issue. The kingdom hosts the hajj, but it is also the world’s second-largest producer of oil. For a long time, Saudi Arabia has been seen as an obstacle to global climate action. This position creates a difficult contradiction for the nation that hosts one of the world’s largest annual human gatherings.

Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, a major holiday, during the time of the hajj. In June 2024, devotees in Mecca finished their rituals while others celebrated the holiday. The hajj follows the Islamic lunar calendar, which is different from the solar calendar used by most of the world. Because the lunar calendar is about ten to eleven days shorter than the solar year, the dates of the hajj move earlier each successive year. Over a cycle of about thirty-three years, the pilgrimage shifts through every season, including spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

All Muslims who are physically and financially able are expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lives. The journey involves walking long distances outdoors for five days. This physical exertion makes participants very vulnerable to environmental conditions. In 2024, the hajj took place in June, which is typically the hottest time of the year in Mecca. More than 1,300 pilgrims died due to extreme heat and humidity during that year’s event.