Climate Facts: Exposure to excessive heat causes premature death, disability

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s climate quick facts will help to demystify these concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) says exposure to excessive heat has wide-ranging physiological impacts on all humans, often amplifying existing conditions and resulting in premature death and disability.
• According to WHO, the number of people exposed to heat waves increased by around 125 million between 2000 and 2016.
• In 2015, 175 million additional people were exposed to heat waves compared to average years.
• The United Nations says carbon dioxide levels were 148 percent of pre-industrial levels in 2019.
• Improving health systems could help prevent 250,000 climate-related deaths per year from 2030 to 2050, says the UN.