Rising Global Temperatures Could Become Unbearable for Humans and Create a Worldwide Health Crisis
Global temperature rise, driven primarily by anthropogenic activity, threatens to exceed human heat and humidity tolerance, leading to potentially severe health risks for billions of people worldwide.
As the Earth's temperature steadily rises due to the long-term effects of industrialization and climate change, a grim picture emerges. The latest interdisciplinary research conducted by scientists from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, Purdue University College of Sciences, and Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future warns that if global temperatures increase by 1 degree Celsius or more beyond current levels, billions of people worldwide could face an alarming health crisis.
The Delicate Balance: Heat and Humidity
Humans have an intrinsic ability to withstand specific combinations of heat and humidity. Beyond a certain point, our bodies can no longer naturally cool themselves, leading to severe health problems such as heatstroke or heart attacks.
The rising global temperatures, propelled by the burning of fossil fuels since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, have already resulted in an increase of approximately 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since the start of the Industrial Revolution.
The Rising Threat
Until now, instances of temperatures and humidity exceeding human limits have been recorded only sporadically in regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The study identifies an alarming threshold for the ambient wet-bulb temperature, where young, healthy individuals can tolerate around 31 degrees Celsius, or 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit, at 100% humidity.
If global temperature reaches +2°C, more than 2 billion people will experience periods of unsurvivable heat and humidity. With global temperature currently fast approaching 1.5°C, that catastrophe is potentially just 10 years away. Two parliaments.https://t.co/tJA8UNu8tI
— Prof Nick Cowern (@NickCowern) October 22, 2023
The research predicts that if global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, several densely populated regions will be adversely affected. The Indus River Valley in Pakistan, eastern China, and sub-Saharan Africa, home to billions, will annually endure extended periods of heat beyond human tolerance.
Escalating Danger
If global temperatures continue to climb to 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the adverse effects will not be confined to specific geographic areas.
South America and Australia will also join the list of regions grappling with extreme heat. It is important to note that unforeseen and unprecedented weather events are not accounted for in these models, such as London reaching 40 degrees Celsius in summer 2022.
Understanding and Mitigating the Threat
The research underscores the need to address heat and humidity concerns seriously, especially in regions vulnerable to these conditions. Even before crossing the identified thresholds, heat stress and its health consequences are relevant concerns, particularly for older populations.
While the situation appears dire, there is hope. Drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, can significantly impact the trajectory of global temperature rise. Ultimately, the impact of rising temperatures transcends national borders.