Countries in the Gulf region and the Middle East are highly vulnerable to extreme heat caused by climate change, and poorer populations will be particularly at risk in the coming decades, according to a new study.
The research, published on Monday in the journal Nature Sustainability, looks at how countries are exposed to “unprecedented heat”, described as average annual temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius or higher.
It assesses exposure under two scenarios by 2070, namely if global temperatures rise by 1.5C or 2.7C.
In a scenario where the global population is 9.5 billion people and global temperatures rise by 2.7C by then, Qatar would have its entire population exposed to extreme heat, closely followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, with almost their entire population exposed, the study found.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could face a dire situation under either temperature rise scenario, as the majority of their population is projected to be exposed to extreme heat even if global temperatures rise by 1, 5C.
Last week, the World Meteorological Organization said the next five years will be the warmest on record as, for the first time, global temperatures are more likely to exceed 1.5C of warming by 2027.
For the most important news of the day, transmitted in real time and presented equidistantly, LIKE our Facebook page!
Follow Mediafax on Instagram to see spectacular images and stories from around the world!
The content of the www.mediafax.ro website is intended exclusively for your information and personal use. It is forbidden republication of the content of this site without the consent of MEDIAFAX. To obtain this agreement, please contact us at [email protected].
