Elderly at far greater risk from rising heat than thought

The study published in The Lancet Planetary Health reveals that rising temperatures due to climate change pose a far greater threat to the health of elderly people than previously believed. Researchers from Stanford University conducted a new analysis, taking into account the world's ageing population, and found that elderly people in regions most affected by heat could be exposed to dangerous conditions for extended periods.

If global temperatures rise by just 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, 22% of people over 60 worldwide will experience unsafe heat for at least a month each year. With each additional degree of warming, the number of people enduring intolerable heat will increase significantly, potentially reaching a billion by 2100 in the worst-affected areas.

South Asia and the Gulf regions are identified as the most vulnerable, with countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Niger facing the greatest threat due to high poverty rates and limited access to cooling facilities. The study warns that uncompensable heat could lead to internal displacement and transboundary climate migration, creating new policy and humanitarian challenges.

To mitigate these grim scenarios, the researchers urge for substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and prioritize the needs of vulnerable older people in future heat plans, particularly focusing on improving air conditioning and other cooling facilities in homes. The report comes as Europe experiences its hottest summer on record, with wildfires, prolonged heatwaves, and droughts ravaging the continent.