Transcript:
As the climate warms, the heat wave becomes stronger and stronger. And, more and more places are risking reaching temperatures that people cannot tolerate – even if they drink a lot of water or rest in the shadows.
Matthews: “Doing things like adjusting physical exercise. Stay sunny and full of moisture – tradition given in extreme hot plots…suggestions, that won't cut it.”
Tom Matthews is a climate scientist at King's College London. At some point, people's body temperatures start to rise uncontrollably, and without external cooling, they can't calm down.
In a recent study, his team estimated that if the world was warmer by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, the total area was about the size of the United States, even for young, healthy adults, the size of the United States could reach a temperature that crossed this dangerous threshold.
Larger areas will reach potentially fatal temperatures, with a lower threshold for older people.
Matthews: “This is usually a subtropical and tropical location. South Asia is particularly at risk. Sahara Africa is also very dangerous.”
Therefore, increasing access to air conditioning in these and other high-risk areas is crucial to saving lives.
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
