A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that the threat of extreme heat — exacerbated by climate change — is significantly underestimated for older people. Researchers from Stanford University modeled how global temperature rise will affect different age groups. They found that if global temperatures increase by 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, about 22% of people over 60 worldwide will face dangerous heat conditions for at least a month each year. Each additional degree of warming could expose roughly an additional billion people to an extra month of heat and humidity beyond their body’s capacity to cope. The study called for greater focus on protecting vulnerable populations and improving access to cooling solutions.
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