‘Grim reality’: 1.5°C of warming will hit older adults way harder than previously thought
PARIS, Aug 19 — The threat that rising temperatures fuelled by climate change pose to the health of older people h...
A new US study has revealed that the health risks posed by rising temperatures due to climate change for older individuals have been significantly underestimated. The research, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, reveals that older adults are more vulnerable to heat than previous studies estimated, as they have a harder time regulating their body temperature compared to younger, healthier individuals.
For the study, researchers at Stanford University utilized data from recent wet-bulb temperature experiments in the United States, which specifically tested the tolerance of people aged 60 and above to increased heat and humidity. Taking into account the world's aging population, the researchers then projected how heat will impact the health of three age groups by the year 2100 under different levels of global warming.
Under a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures, the study found that 22% of people over 60 would be exposed to unsafe heat for at least a month each year worldwide. Each additional degree of warming would result in an additional billion people being exposed to roughly another month of intolerable heat.
The worst-affected regions, according to the study, would be South Asia and the Gulf, where elderly individuals could face dangerous heat day-and-night for three consecutive months annually. Countries most at risk include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Niger, which have high poverty rates and limited access to cooling facilities.
The researchers emphasized that uncompensable heat could lead to internal displacement and transboundary climate migration, creating new policy and humanitarian challenges. To mitigate these grim scenarios, they called for the world to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and prioritize the health of vulnerable older populations in future heat plans.
The study highlights the importance of providing broader access to air-conditioning and other cooling facilities, as most heat-related deaths occur indoors. Europe's recent wildfires, prolonged heatwaves, and droughts have been part of what is expected to be the world's fastest-warming continent's hottest summer on record, with next year projected to be even hotter.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
