<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/10/extreme-heat-study-global-warming-physical-activity>
"Climate breakdown is shrinking the amount of time that people can safely go
about their lives, according to a study that shows a third of the world’s
population now resides in areas where heat severely limits activity.
Rising temperatures, driven by the continued burning of fossil fuels, are
making it difficult even for many young, healthy adults to do basic physical
activities, such as housework or walking up stairs during daylight hours at the
height of the summer, the report warns.
The limitations are greater for elderly people, who have less ability to sweat
and thus control their body temperatures, according to the research, which
combines physiological studies of heat tolerance with seven decades of global
and regional data on population, temperatures and human development.
On average, the report finds that people over 65 now experience about 900 hours
each year when heat severely restricts safe outdoor activity, compared with 600
hours in 1950. This is equivalent to more than a month of daytime hours.
Worst-affected are those in poorer countries or regions, even though they are
far less responsible for climate breakdown than wealthy consumers whose
lifestyles produce higher greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of gas, oil
and coal. In some tropical and subtropical regions, heat restricts outdoor
activity for older adults for between one-quarter and one-third of the year.
The most severe challenges are found in south-west Asia (Bahrain, Qatar,
Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman), south Asia (Pakistan,
Bangladesh, India) and parts of west Africa (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso,
Senegal, Djibouti and Niger)."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
