Climate Change Could Lead to Deadly Heatwaves in Highly Populated Areas by 2100, Warns Research

Climate Change Could Lead to Deadly Heatwaves in Highly Populated Areas by 2100, Warns Research

Dil Bar Irshad | October 10, 2023 | 11:45 AM IST | Articles/Editorials | Follow on Google News

Climate Change Could Lead to Deadly Heatwaves in Highly Populated Areas by 2100, Warns Research

A new interdisciplinary research study by institutions including Penn State College of Health and Human Development and Purdue University College of Sciences has raised alarm about the potential consequences of climate change by the end of this century. The research, published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” predicts that if global warming continues beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, it could result in devastating health impacts for humans.

The study highlights that human bodies have limitations in terms of heat and humidity tolerance, and crossing these limits can lead to severe health problems such as heat strokes and heart attacks. Specifically, the research indicates that if global temperatures increase by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, it could expose 2.2 billion residents of Pakistan and India’s Indus River Valley, 1 billion people in eastern China, and 800 million in sub-Saharan Africa to extended periods of heat that surpass human tolerance levels.

Some of the most populous cities in these regions, including Delhi, Kolkata, Shanghai, Multan, Nanjing, and Wuhan, would be highly vulnerable to annual heatwaves. The situation is compounded by the fact that many people in these low and middle-income nations may lack access to air-conditioning or other effective cooling methods.

If global warming continues to rise to 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the study suggests that extreme heat could affect regions such as the Eastern Seaboard and the central United States, extending from Florida to New York and from Houston to Chicago. South America and Australia would also experience extreme heat.

The research underscores that the most severe heat stress is expected in regions with rapid population growth that lack the wealth and resources to combat extreme heat effectively. The study’s co-author, Professor Matthew Huber of Purdue University, warned that billions of people, particularly in low and middle-income countries, could suffer and even die as a result of these heatwaves.

The research highlights the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion, to mitigate the effects of global warming. If significant changes are not made, the study warns that middle-income and low-income countries will bear the brunt of these devastating heatwaves.

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.