Number of people living in extreme heat to double by 2050 if 2C rise occurs, study finds
Scientists expect 41% of the projected global population to face the extremes, with ‘no part of the world’ immune
TL;DR
- If global heating reaches 2C, the number of people living with extreme heat will more than double by 2050, from 1.54 billion to 3.79 billion.
- No region will escape the impact, with the tropics and southern hemisphere being worst affected, but northern countries will also struggle to adapt.
- The majority of those affected will be in India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
- The most significant increase in dangerous temperatures will threaten Central African Republic, Nigeria, South Sudan, Laos, and Brazil.
- A significant shift towards extreme temperatures is occurring near the 1.5C warming phase, underscoring the urgency for adaptation and mitigation.
- Energy demand for air conditioning is expected to increase significantly, potentially overtaking heating demand globally.
- Northern countries, like the UK, face challenges as their infrastructure is designed for cooler climates and is not prepared for temperature extremes.
- Radhika Khosla emphasizes the need for early action in supporting adaptation and mitigation, stating that overshooting 1.5C will have unprecedented impacts.