Despite the clear need for urgent action to combat the growing threat posed by rising temperatures, we remain inert. Investment, research and implementation to address the dangers of extreme heat must ramp up if we are to avoid loss of life. Southwest Asia, South Asia, and Eastern China are among the regions most prone to extreme heat.
Extreme heat is measured via “wet-bulb temperatures,” a combined measure of temperature and humidity. In these regions, the wet-bulb temperature may reach 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, if global climate change is not sufficiently mitigated. At this temperature, even the fittest human body can no longer cool itself through sweating, if such conditions extend for hours.
