Untamed Global Warming Risks Soaring Death Toll in Middle East
Heat-related deaths will multiply 60-fold in the region by the end of this century if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise unabated, according to a new study.
A vehicle travels along a desert road in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
Photographer: Maya Siddiqui/BloombergMore than 80% of heat-related deaths predicted in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of this century could be prevented if global warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius, according to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Already grappling with an acute lack of water and temperatures that regularly reach 45C in the summer months, the Middle East and North Africa is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It’s warming about twice as fast as the global average, which means maximum temperatures are currently predicted to rise to almost 50C by the century’s end, potentially rendering some areas unlivable.