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- GH14A-01: Survivable but Not Livable: Intensifying Global Heat Threatens Livability for Younger and Older Adults
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NOLA CC
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Luke Parsons, Nature Conservancy (First Author, Presenting Author)
Jane Baldwin, University of California, Irvine
Ollie Jay, University of Sydney
Peter Kalmus, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Haley Staudmyer, University of California Irvine
Jennifer Vanos, Arizona State University
Nicholas Wolff, The Nature Conservancy
Gisel Guzman-Echavarria, Arizona State University
As the planet warms, extreme heat is becoming a serious threat to human health, especially for older adults and people living in socially vulnerable areas. In this study, we used global weather data and a human heat balance model (HEAT-Lim) to estimate where and when it’s already too hot and humid for people to safely be active. We analyzed hourly temperature and humidity data (1950-2024) to understand how heat affects people’s ability to safely do everyday activities, like walking or light housework, without risking dangerous increases in body temperature. We focused on two age groups, healthy younger adults (18–40 years old) and older adults (over 65), assuming they were in the shade with a light breeze. We found that in many parts of the world, especially in tropical regions and lower-income areas, people already face hundreds to thousands of hours each year when it’s too hot to be safely active. Older adults are especially at risk, with some areas experiencing up to 3,000 hours per year of unsafe heat. Our results show that heat-related limits on livability have increased significantly over the past 75 years. Without stronger action to reduce emissions and support adaptation, these risks will continue to grow.
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