The melting of glaciers driven by climate change is directly linked to an increase in extreme heat, which has caused an average of more than 500,000 deaths annually over the past two decades.
The report said high humidity makes the heat more unbearable by hindering sweat evaporation and limiting the body’s natural cooling system.
When the “wet-bulb” temperature, which combines temperature and humidity, exceeds 35 degrees Centigrade (95 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than six hours, the body’s inability to cool results in organ failure and brain damage. Might be possible.
The report points to research that by 2070, parts of South Asia and the Middle East will regularly exceed this limit.
Nearly 30 percent of the global population is already exposed to lethal climate conditions for at least 20 days per year, a number that could exceed 70 percent by 2100.
While cutting greenhouse gas emissions is the ultimate solution to the problem, it is already too late in many parts of the world where this tipping point is rapidly approaching.
Moving communities away from unbearably hot areas is one solution, but relocating is not an option available to everyone. Here adaptations need to be implemented quickly, including providing shade and cooler habitat.