China’s capital city of Beijing has shattered a decades-old record for hours of sub-zero temperatures in December, dating back to 1951. This comes after a cold wave swept through the northern and northeastern parts of the country, bringing blizzards and sending temperatures plummeting to historic lows. The city's weather observatory recorded over 300 hours of below-freezing temperatures since December 11, marking the most frigid December the city has experienced in over 70 years. The extreme cold has also caused a heating supply crunch in several cities in the central Chinese province of Henan, including Jiaozuo, where major suppliers have experienced boiler breakdowns.

As a result, some areas are facing an urgent need for more heat supply, particularly as the temperatures continue to hover in the sub-zero range. To prioritize residential heat usage, the city of Jiaozuo will suspend heat supply for most businesses except essential service providers such as hospitals and senior centres. Meanwhile, two other cities in Henan, Puyang and Pingdingshan, have already suspended heat supply to government departments and administrative institutions due to the extremely cold weather conditions.

The forecast for the weekend shows temperatures in several areas in Henan plunging to as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius. However, there is some relief in sight as warm air is expected to flow from the country's north to south, gradually lifting temperatures in the affected areas. Even as of 2 p.m. on Sunday, temperatures in many central and eastern areas of China had already begun to rebound, with some areas experiencing a rise of more than 10 degrees Celsius. The extreme cold weather is not just a localized issue, but part of a larger pattern impacting various parts of China. It reflects a global concern over the impacts of climate change, and the urgent need for countries to transition away from fossil fuels as agreed at the COP28 climate talks. This record-breaking cold wave serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing climate-related challenges and implementing sustainable solutions.