41% of world could face extreme heat by 2050, says study
By 2050, almost half the planet—about 3.8 billion people—might be dealing with extreme heat, according to new Oxford research.
That's a huge jump from 2010, when about 1.54 billion people were affected, and is tied to global temperatures rising by 2°C.
What's at stake?
Most of the big changes will hit before temperatures reach 2°C, so action this decade (the 2020s) is important, but many projected impacts are expected to start unfolding as early as the 2030s.
The need for air conditioning will skyrocket—especially in developing countries—and energy demand for cooling is expected to rise significantly.
But here's the tough part: access to AC remains limited in some countries, including India and Nigeria, raising concerns about health risks and inequality as the world heats up.