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One-third of global population now exposed to “lethal” heat

More great climate news: A new study in the journal Nature Climate Change finds approximately 30 percent of the global population is exposed to lethal heatwaves at least 20 days a year, and this danger will grow exponentially with climate change. The study defines “lethal” as a combined measure of surface air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation that has caused death in the past.

Even with “drastic” emission reductions, the study’s authors expect that about 48 percent of people in the world will face killer heat by the year 2100. And the figure jumps to about 74 percent if emissions keep climbing. Countries along the equator will be hardest-hit in all scenarios.

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