A one degree Celsius increase in global average temperature due to the man-made climate crisis could shorten life expectancy by about 5 months, with women and residents of developing countries disproportionately affected
The impact of the climate crisis could mean a half-year reduction in average life expectancy, according to a study published on January 18, 2024 in the journal PLOS Climate by Dr. Amit Roy of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and The New School for Social Research in the USA.
Temperature and precipitation - two clear signs of climate change - cause a variety of public health problems, from the acute and direct ones (for example, natural disasters such as floods and heat waves) to the indirect but equally disruptive ones (for example, respiratory and mental illnesses). While these effects are evident and well documented, existing research has yet to establish a direct link between climate change and life expectancy.
In order to clarify this relationship, the author evaluated temperature, precipitation and average life expectancy data from 191 countries in the years 1940-2020, using GDP per capita to monitor the extreme differences between countries.
In addition to measuring the isolated effects of temperature and precipitation, the author designed an integrated climate change index, the first of its kind, that combines the two variables in order to assess the severity of climate change overall.
The findings show that separately, an average global increase of 1 degree Celsius is linked to an average decrease of about 0.44 years in human life expectancy, or about 5 months and 10 week. An increase of 6 points in the integrated climate change index - which takes into account both temperature and precipitation - is expected in order to reduce the average life expectancy by XNUMX months. Women and residents of developing countries are disproportionately affected.
Beyond the research results, Dr. Roy hopes that the integrated climate change index will stimulate the global discourse on climate change; will become an attainable measure for the non-scientific public; and will encourage cooperation and even friendly competition between countries to fight the effects of climate change.
The author says that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a changing environment are of particular importance.
In addition to this approach, the author suggests future local studies that consider specific extreme weather events (eg forest fires, tsunamis and floods), whose impact cannot be fully reflected through temperature and precipitation analysis alone.
Dr. Roy adds: "The global threat posed by climate change to the well-being of billions of people highlights the urgent need to treat the issue as a public health crisis, as this study reveals, while emphasizing that actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and proactive initiatives are essential in order to protect life expectancy and maintain the health of populations around the world."
More of the topic in Hayadan:
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Why is the heat more harmful to women?
Is it because of the poverty and general bad situation that women find themselves in in most countries?
Or is it something in women's biology? And naturally (real) women should live much longer than men.
It should be noted that the original article is under review after questions raised by the readers of the article. Full information can be found in the link to the article on this page
From the magazine's website about the article
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Following publication of the paper referenced below, concerns have been raised about the reliability of global mean annual temperature data that are discussed in the article and used in the study's analyses. PLOS Climate is looking into the concerns that have been raised. Meanwhile, readers are advised to interpret this article's results with caution. You may direct any specific questions to onepress@plos.org. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.