Health risks of extreme heat

Abstract

Record breaking heat events, once rare, are now common. 1 An extra 475 million exposures to heatwaves (that is, one person experiencing three days or more of extreme heat) were observed globally in 2019 compared with 1986-2005. 2 Clear evidence links the intensity and frequency of heat extremes to human induced global warming, which also increases the probability of compound events such as concurrent heatwaves and droughts. 3 The implications are serious: extreme heat has a substantial impact on all 17 UN sustainable development goals-including zero hunger, good health and wellbeing for all, climate action, and reduced inequalities 4 -directly affecting both people and the planet.

Topics & Concepts