Exposure to extreme heat that hinders daily life doubles worldwide
The research, led by The Nature Conservancy - one of the world's largest non-profit environmental organizations - reminds us that heat exposure is not a future threat to human health, but a problem that already conditions people's lives.
TL;DR
- Extreme heat periods that make daily activities unsafe have doubled worldwide since 1950.
- Rising temperatures and humidity are limiting the 'habitability' of large parts of the planet.
- The study, led by The Nature Conservancy, used the HEAT-Lim model and ERA5-Land climate data.
- People aged 18-40 have experienced nearly double the hours of 'life-limiting heat' in the last two decades compared to 1950-1979.
- Individuals over 65 have endured double the hours of life-limiting heat compared to the mid-20th century.
- Southwest and East North America, South America, much of Europe, Eastern Sahara, Southwest and East Asia, and South Australia have been most affected.
- South and Southwest Asia have experienced the most hours of disabling heat, with Qatar seeing a significant increase.
- In the US, those over 65 now experience about 270 hours of heat-limiting conditions annually, up from 200 hours in the 1950s.
- In 2024, over 43% of 18-40 year olds and nearly 80% of those over 65 experienced severe heat-humidity limitations.
- The report warns that an aging global population will face longer periods where daily life is unsafe due to heat.
- Authors conclude that without reducing fossil fuel burning, heat-induced habitability limitations will become more common.