WILLEMSTAD – Extreme heat will no longer be an exception on Curaçao but a defining feature of daily life by the end of this century, according to climate projections released this week.
The report shows a dramatic increase in so-called “hot days,” defined as days with an average temperature above 29.8°C. Currently, Curaçao experiences an average of 17 hot days per year. By 2050, this number could rise to between 92 and 156 days, depending on global emissions. By 2100, the island could face as many as 298 hot days annually, meaning heat conditions would dominate nearly ten months of the year.
Researchers warn that this level of heat will significantly affect public health, energy demand, labor productivity, and daily life. Electricity consumption for cooling is expected to rise sharply, while outdoor work and physical activity may become increasingly dangerous during large parts of the year.
Marine temperatures are also rising. Since 1970, the sea around Curaçao has warmed by approximately 0.14°C per decade, increasing the frequency of marine heatwaves that cause coral bleaching and weaken the island’s natural coastal defenses .