The major cities that are becoming too hot for humans to live in
With record-breaking temperatures being recorded seemingly every month, experts are now warning large areas of the Earth could become completely inhospitable to humans due to the scorching heat.
January was the world's warmest on record, despite a shift towards the La Niña weather pattern that should have resulted in cooler weather.
Instead, January's temperatures extended a run of extraordinary heat, in which 18 of the last 19 months saw an average global temperature of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial times. Scientists described the results as "surprising".
The impact of increasingly extreme temperatures on humans could eventually result in swathes of currently habitable areas becoming so inhospitable that people are simply unable to live there because of the heat.
Some experts warn that some areas of the Middle East could soon be at risk, with some regions of China, Brazil and the United States potentially at risk further into the future.
The resulting upheaval could lead to increased mass migration and even spark wars over water and food supplies, experts have warned.
Aidan Charron, an environmental scientist and associate director of Earth Day, warned that the warning signs of extreme heat are already here.
'Parts of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East - Dubai for example in the United Arab Emirates - are all going to face some of the worst impacts of climate change in the form of even worse extreme heat indexes," Carron told Yahoo News.
In May 2024, India and Pakistan also saw record heat waves with temperatures hitting 50C.
"This is all going to get worse," Carron continued. "New Delhi was especially badly hit with extreme heat. We could easily see heat indexes in this part of the world that make outdoor life virtually impossible, by the end of the century. In the US too this is going to be an issue – for example, Chicago is becoming a severe heat zone.'
Some of the most populous areas in the world in Africa and South-east Asia are most at risk.
Previous research showed that Yemenese cities such as Hudaydah could experience up to 56 days a year of intolerable heat, while Aden would have 34 days.
Jeddah in Saudi Arabia would have 37 days, and Lahore in Pakistan would have 24, while Dubai would have 20 and Delhi would have six.
'Already in Iraq and Syria, droughts have been linked to heightened social tensions and mass migration," Charron said. "By 2050, parts of the Middle East could experience up to 30% less precipitation, turning areas that were once fertile into deserts.
"These people won't stay and die, they will migrate north. We could easily see the precious resources of clean water and fertile soil being fought over.'
Human beings can survive very high temperatures (well over 50C) when humidity is low, but in high humidity, we cannot survive temperatures of even 35C for long periods, because there is no way to cool down by sweating.
In such circumstances, even the fittest people can die within hours in the most extreme conditions.
In the coming decades, a measurement called 'wet-bulb temperature' - the lowest temperature to which an object can cool down when moisture evaporates from it - could become crucial for determining which areas of our warming planet remain habitable.
Wet-bulb temperature is measured by taking the temperature from a thermometer covered in a wet cloth, which is normally slightly cooler than 'dry-bulb temperatures'.
This allows researchers to work out whether humans can sweat in such temperatures: if the water evaporates, the thermometer cools down, so that 'wet bulb' temperatures are lower than 'dry bulb' temperatures.
Climatologist Dr Jennifer Brandon, founder of Wild Beacon Consulting, told Yahoo News: 'In terms of areas that will be too hot to be considered liveable, we often look at what we call the 'wet bulb temperature'.
"Basically, it measures how our bodies cool down from sweating. Think about getting out of a hot shower. If the room is cooler, you cool down quickly. If the room is hot and humid, you cool down much slower.'
'The fear in a heating world is that our bodies can never fully cool down, and so risks of heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase as the wet bulb temperature increases.
'The highest wet bulb temperature that humans can survive is 35C for about six hours. The places people predict are most vulnerable for being that hot, and thus becoming unliveable are South Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea by around 2050, and Eastern China, parts of Southeast Asia, and Brazil by 2070.'
A study this year measured both 'uncompensable' thresholds, where body temperature rises uncontrollably, and 'unsurvivable' thresholds where the body's core temperature rises to 42C within six hours.
'Uncompensable' means that humans cannot cool down by sweating, and 'unsurvivable' means that temperatures would be fatal to adults within hours.
If the world's temperature rises by up to 4-5C above pre-industrial levels, older people could experience uncompensable heat across 60% of Earth's surface during heat wave events.
The Climate Action Tracker predicts that today's policies could lead to 2.7C warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100: warming of 4-5C is unlikely, but not impossible.
With a rise of this level, unsurvivable heat would also begin to affect younger people in tropical areas, the King's College study found.
With a rise of 2C, the area where even young adults could not keep a safe body temperature will triple to 6% of Earth's land surface.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Aussies warned over widespread danger emerging in homes after relentless weather
After weeks of heavy rainfall along Australia's east coast, which triggered widespread and record-breaking flooding, experts are warning conditions are now ripe for mould growth. And if left untreated, it can rapidly become a serious health risk. In recent months, Queensland has copped a serious battering from cyclones and tropical storms, while in NSW some parts of the state's north coast were hammered by more than 500 millimetres of rain in just a few days this month. When moisture, warmth, and organic material — like wood, paper or dust — combine, it creates an ideal environment for fungal spores to grow. Many residents have taken to social media, including multiple renters, sharing pictures of mould found int their homes and asking for advice. This week, a Queensland mum said she'd been hospitalised and placed on oxygen after claiming her rental home had poisoned her family with severe mould exposure. Dating back a year, damage escalated during the recent cyclone, destroying $13,000 worth of belongings. In April, she said mushrooms were found growing out of the walls. The mother developed a relentless cough, dizziness and shortness of breath, and her newborn has now been diagnosed with a respiratory infection. After a mould inspection was finally carried out, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was admitted to hospital. "This isn't just mould — this is negligence," she claimed on social media, sharing a photo from an ambulance gurney. "This is what happens when landlords ... gamble with people's health." Speaking to Yahoo News, Professor Rebecca Bentley from Melbourne University's department of health sciences urged Australians affected by the recent wet weather to keep their homes as dry as possible. She said symptoms from mould exposure could come on instantly for those with allergies or sensitivities, while others might not experience any for "some time, or not at all". Bentley warned of the clues to look out for that signal you have been affected by mould. "Signs include a runny or blocked nose, irritation of the eyes and skin, and wheezing," she said. "Porous items that can't be easily cleaned and have been wet for more than two days should be thrown out. Dry your home out quickly by opening all the doors and windows. If possible, use fans or air-conditioners on dry mode to speed up the process "If the roof space is flooded, it will also need extra ventilation to speed up the drying process. This includes items such as mattresses, carpet, leather goods and ceiling insulation." Grim problem plaguing Aussie homes as 'poor living conditions' worsen Aussie warning after sinister discovery inside woman's ear Aussie hits out at Event Cinemas after 'gross' discovery in theatre Bentley said leaky plumbing, roofs and other fixtures should be repaired as soon as possible. "If repainting walls or other hard surfaces prone to mould growth, anti-mould solutions can be added into paint to help minimise mould growth," she suggested. "Plants and bushes growing on or close to outside walls help to hold in moisture and promote mould growth. Try to clear plants, bushes and soil away from walls." Bentley emphasised that in most cases, damage caused by flooding remains the responsibility of the property owner. This includes monitoring for signs of mould, improving ventilation, and addressing moisture build-up promptly to prevent further complications. Dr Heike Neumeister-Kemp, head of Australia's only environmental mycology laboratory, has been inundated with calls in the wake of recent floods. She said the spike in inquiries reflects just how widespread mould issues have become across the east coast, particularly in homes that remained closed up during periods of high humidity. According to Neumeister-Kemp, mould doesn't need much to take hold — just moisture, warmth and still air. These conditions are easily met in many homes after flooding, especially where ventilation is limited. Damp carpets, soggy plasterboard, and even condensation on windows can all act as breeding grounds for fungal spores. Once mould takes root, it can spread quickly and often invisibly. "Right now, it's not just a condensation issue because you literally had 'rain bombs' dropping and often the houses aren't built for that extreme amount of water," she told the ABC last month. Neumeister-Kemp said mould problems are often underestimated. Many believe a quick clean with bleach will solve the issue, but this can make things worse if the underlying moisture isn't addressed. Thorough drying, adequate airflow, and in severe cases, professional remediation, are often required to properly eliminate the risk. "If you put bleach on mould, it takes the colour but the mould is still there," she said, instead suggesting using commercial plant-based products made from essential oils. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Saturated state due rain relief but more weather carnage is on the way: 'Not normal'
Much of New South Wales has been lashed by heavy rain and flooding this week, with the deadly weather event claiming four lives as some areas were hit by 500mm of rain in a few days. It's the kind of rainfall more typical of a summer tropical cyclone than mid-autumn. And while skies are slowly clearing over parts of northern NSW, the system is far from finished, with Victoria and Tasmania now in the firing line, and another hazardous weather event looming next week. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology's Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines said the rain band will move south of NSW from tonight, before likely dissipating over the weekend. A sunny weekend is forecast for Sydney. "The worst-hit areas of the Mid North Coast and northern parts of the Hunter have now seen the rain shift away," Hines told Yahoo on Friday morning. "But the rain band is still sliding southwards through NSW, so we're still seeing decent falls through the Illawarra, South Coast, Snowy Mountains and even parts of the Western slopes and plains." Sydney and the Blue Mountains also copped a deluge, with western and northern Sydney receiving more than 100mm overnight into Friday morning. The current system is expected to ease across NSW late Friday into the early hours of Saturday as it moves through eastern Victoria and then into Tasmania, before clearing the country altogether by Saturday afternoon. Social media has this week been lit up with confusion — and a fair bit of despair — over the relentless hammering from the rain. One British expat Sophie Williams summed up the general mood in a post asking, "It has been raining for years now, when will it stop?" Her comment quickly struck a chord, sparking a flood of replies from NSW locals tired of being cooped up indoors. So, is the sun finally about to make a long-awaited return? "Yeah," Hines confirmed. "We get a couple of sunnier, brighter days through the weekend, so we can start to get into that clean-up and recovery for those areas which have been subject to major flooding over the week so far." But he warned Australians not to get too comfortable. "There's another big system waiting in the wings," he warned. "A powerful cold front is expected to sweep across the country from Sunday night to Tuesday night, affecting not just NSW but also South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT." While this next event will bring colder air, typical for late May, the bigger threat will be strong winds. "The main watch area in NSW is because the ground is already saturated," Hines explained. "When you get really windy conditions over saturated soil, that's when you start pulling up trees, blowing down branches, and getting that classic wind damage." He said this weather pattern is "more typical" for this time of year, compared to the extreme rainfall earlier this week, which was anything but ordinary. "Having that rain stuck in place over one area for four days in a row… that's not a normal amount of rainfall," Hines said. "Some weather stations saw over half a metre of rain. We're still in the middle of a major flood event, and the rivers' response has shown how dramatic this has been." A fourth person has been confirmed dead as devastating floods continue to wreak havoc across NSW's Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. The body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, was discovered early Friday morning inside a car that had veered off Orara Way in Nana Glen, about 30km northwest of Coffs Harbour. The vehicle was spotted by a passing motorist around 4.30am. Formal identification is yet to take place. Nearly 50,000 people have been isolated by the flood crisis, which has now claimed four lives. Heavy rain continues to pound the region, with the weather system moving south towards Newcastle and Gosford throughout Friday. The Mid North Coast received over 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with Sydney and its surrounds bracing for another 50 to 100mm on Friday. Sydney Olympic Park recorded 118mm in the 24 hours to 9am Friday, while Belrose saw 108mm and Parramatta 104mm. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the scenes "pretty horrific" and confirmed he would visit the hard-hit town of Taree on Friday to witness the damage firsthand and thank SES crews. He also announced government support payments would be available via MyGov from Monday afternoon. And it's not just the east copping a shake-up — the west coast is also in for a surprise. "Earlier this week, it had been mostly fine, clear and sunny across the north and west," Hines said. "But we are now anticipating an unseasonable band of rain to form in the northwest, probably on Monday." This system could bring rain to much of northern WA, the Northern Territory, and even inland Queensland and South Australia by mid-next week — unusual for the dry season. "So we're watching that closely — it's out-of-season rain, cloudy skies and colder temps in places that are normally dry at this time of year." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.

Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
‘You are not alone': Most Nevadans worry about climate change, poll shows
LAS VEGAS – In the state with the nation's two fastest-warming cities, most residents believe in climate change and think officials should do something about it, new polling has found. Answers from Nevadans rank similarly to national averages, with more widespread belief in climate change in Clark and Washoe counties, where almost 87% of the state's population resides. For instance, in the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication's poll, 63% of Nevadans said they are worried about climate change - identical to the national average. That number was 1% higher in Clark County and 6% higher in Washoe County. "If you're worried about it, you are not alone," said Jennifer Marlon, senior research scientist and director of data science at the Yale School of the Environment. "The vast majority of people are worried about it, and it's many more people than you think. We're not talking about it, because everyone thinks they're going to end up picking a fight. But, by and large, that's not true." The idea of a warming climate - and the burning of fossil fuels as the main cause - is supported by more than 99% of peer-reviewed research. It was a science nonprofit's 2025 Earth Day analysis of temperatures that designated Las Vegas and Reno as the two fastest-warming cities in the United States for the third year in a row, when comparing annual average temperatures since 1970. Yale researchers based their poll numbers on surveys of more than 32,000 people from every state and 2,379 of the country's 3,144 counties. To map the whole country by county, they used a statistical model that considers location and sociodemographic factors like political affiliations, race, gender and age. Following are the highlights: Extreme heat potent example Scientists and officials have said Nevada is ground zero for human-caused climate change, perhaps most evident in the summer when temperatures regularly stay in the triple digits, even at night. Sixty-eight percent of Nevadans agree that climate change is affecting the weather, which is 3% more than the country at large. In Clark County, extreme heat's death toll last year was 527 - higher than it's ever been because of a record hot summer and the adapting standards of the county coroner's office. Tom Albright, Nevada's deputy state climatologist and a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, is planning Northern Nevada's first extreme heat summit that will take place next month. In the absence of a coordinated response to extreme heat in the region, Albright said he hopes it can inform people and help them brainstorm ideas for local leaders. Helping find solutions for the one-third of Nevadans who aren't worried about climate change is a priority, too. Albright said using the words "climate change" or "global warming" can turn some people off because of politics - reflected in the polling results from some rural, deep red counties, where only half of the residents are concerned about it. "It doesn't matter if you call it 'global warming,' 'climate change,' 'drought' or 'extreme heat': These are issues that people experience," Albright said in an interview Thursday. "People don't talk about climate change that much, and they don't hear about it in the news as much as you might expect. They tend to underestimate the concern or interest of their neighbors." Next generation The strongest positive response the Silver State had to a question was whether schools should teach about climate change. More than three in four Nevadans feel it should be, and a similar amount of them agree that climate change will harm future generations. Dr. Debra Hendrickson, a board-certified pediatrician in Reno, is the author of "The Air They Breathe." The book is geared toward the challenges children and their parents will experience in the face of climate change, especially as it relates to air quality. Wildfire is a particular challenge in Washoe County, where smoke can come from the region's fires, as well as nearby ones from California. This year, the American Lung Association gave Clark and Washoe counties an F for particle pollution and days with high ozone levels. Whether it's extreme heat, allergies or wildfire smoke, Nevadans' health is directly tied to climate change that has made these issues more prominent, Hendrickson said. "These events that seem big and global are tied to why your kid is coughing and wheezing during a wildfire event," the pediatrician said in an interview Friday. "That's the message that people need to understand: Everybody in the state of Nevada has been affected by climate change. There's no one in the state who's been untouched by this." What Nevadans can do A broader section of the polling results focuses on policy solutions, with more than half in agreement that Congress, Gov. Joe Lombardo, local officials, corporations and private citizens should do more to address climate change. The country's transition to cleaner energy sources still remains highly popular, according to the poll. For those interested in doing something about their concerns on climate change, Hendrickson recommends taking an inventory of what in Nevadans' own lives may be contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, from the food they eat to the way they travel. Learning about local issues and solutions can be inspiring, she said, especially when residents can attend meetings for public utility commissions and city or county government. The best solution to inaction is getting educated without feeling responsible for solving the problem of climate change on a large scale, Hendrickson said. "If you can give people concrete steps that they can take, I think that really activates people," Hendrickson said. "There is such a sense of helplessness because it is such a huge problem." ___ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.