Research indicates that a half-degree increase in global temperatures could dramatically expand the area considered too hot for human life, especially affecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly. A 2°C rise may compromise the ability to maintain safe body temperatures even among healthy adults, highlighting a pressing need for climate action.
A recent assessment by an international team led by Dr. Tom Matthews from King’s College London indicates that if global temperatures rise by 2°C above preindustrial levels, the area of Earth that becomes too hot for healthy young humans will triple to approximately six percent of the planet. This shift will also endanger over a third of the landmass for individuals aged 60 and older. The findings, published in “Nature Reviews Earth and Environment”, reveal significant implications for human survival under future climate scenarios.
The concern of global warming and its impacts on human health is intensifying, particularly regarding heat stress conditions. Heat-related mortality risks continue to grow, particularly with recent observations that temperatures have now surpassed 1.5°C above preindustrial averages. This study focuses on how increased global temperatures affect the human body’s ability to maintain a safe core temperature, especially concerning extreme heat events.
The research underscores the urgent need for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. With predicted warming leading to unprecedented heat stresses on large segments of the population, particularly the elderly, it reinforces the necessity for interdisciplinary approaches to fully grasp the health repercussions of extreme heat. Essentially, reliable access to cooler environments may become crucial for human survival.
Original Source: www.kcl.ac.uk
