One third of world population lives where heat severely limits daily activity: Report

ANKARA

A newly published report has shown that approximately one-third of the world's population lives in areas where extreme heat severely restricts daily physical activity.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Health, analyzed temperature and humidity data spanning from 1950 to 2024. The analysis found that people aged 65 and over face significant difficulty carrying out routine tasks due to extreme heat, particularly during certain months of the year.

According to the report, parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America are becoming ‘unlivable’ for senior individuals.

Extreme heat severely restricts safe outdoor activity for those aged 65 and older by an average of 900 hours per year, the report stated, compared with approximately 600 hours annually in 1950.

The report also stressed the urgent need for measures to reduce the primary drivers of global warming, including oil, natural gas, and coal.

*Writing by Zeynep Ozturhan in Ankara