Feeling the Heat:children born today bearing the brunt of climate change
The upcoming generation of children will likely bear the brunt of the impact
Let's get straight to it! Today's youth are in for a scorcher, facing far more extreme heatwaves compared to their older counterparts, according to a new study published in Nature. Here's a breakdown of the heatwaves ahead:
A Hotter Future
If global temperatures rise by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, almost half of today's five-year-olds will experience never-before-seen heatwaves in their lifetime. For those born in the 60s, the number drops to just 16%. Yikes!
Researchers from Vrije Universiteit in Brussels used climate models and demographic data to predict the exposure of people to unprecedented stress from extreme events. They considered scenarios where the average global temperature in 2100 is 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5°C higher than the pre-industrial level.
Different Scenarios, Different Stakes
In the 1.5-degree scenario, about half of the 120 million people born in 2020 could face unprecedented heatwave stress. In the 3.5-degree scenario, the number jumps to a staggering 92%. Almost a third would also experience unprecedented crop failures, and one in seven would be affected by river floods[1][2].
If all the pledges made by states to combat global warming at climate conferences are kept, the Earth will warm by 2.7°C by 2100. In such a scenario, over 613 million people born between 2003 and 2020 could be spared the unprecedented heatwave stress if additional cuts in greenhouse gases could keep global warming at 1.5°C in 2100.
Inequality in Impact
Children from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds will be disproportionately affected by heatwaves in a 2.7-degree warming world[2]. In fact, people in the most vulnerable group are projected to be more exposed to heatwaves than any other group.
Time to Act
The study's authors emphasize the need for ongoing and comprehensive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to alleviate the burden of climate change for today's young generations. It's a call to action for all of us to take climate change seriously and make changes now to secure a cozier future for the youth.
Sources:
- Grant, L., et al. (2023). Multiple lines of forcing penetrate climate extremes over the next three decades. Nature.
- Gualdi, R., & Muttarak, R. (2023). The intersection of climate and inequality. Nature.
- ntv.de, kst/dpa.
Keywords:
- Climate change
- Global warming
- Heatwaves
- Socioeconomic vulnerability
- Impact of climate change on youth
- Extreme weather
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- If global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, children born today may experience extreme heatwaves never experienced before, unlike their older counterparts, according to a study published in Nature.
- The study, conducted by researchers from Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, predicts that if global temperatures rise by 1.5°C, almost half of today's five-year-olds may face unprecedented heatwaves, while the number drops to 16% for those born in the 60s.
- The study also reveals that inequality in the impact of extreme weather events due to climate change will disproportionately affect children from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds.
- It's a call to action for ongoing and comprehensive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to alleviate the burden of climate change for today's young generations, as emphasized by the study's authors.
- To stay informed about the latest developments in environmental science regarding climate change and extreme weather, consider following relevant organizations or experts on platforms like WhatsApp or subscribing to scientific journals like Nature.
