Scientists made a terrifying prediction. They warned that as many as 30 million people could die a violent death by 2100.
The new study estimates the death toll from air pollution and extreme temperatures. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry concluded that climate change and air pollution could lead to the deaths of around 30 million people by the end of the century. This follows a recent UN report that warns the Earth is on track to rise by a "catastrophic" 3.1 degrees by 2100.
The team that conducted the survey analysed data from 2000 to 2090 at 10-year intervals, as reported by Mail Online. The study points to significant regional differences in climate-related deaths. South and Asia are likely to suffer the most, in part because of their aging populations and persistent air pollution problems.
In contrast, higher-income regions, such as Western Europe, North America, Australia and Asia-Pacific, are expected to have more deaths related to extreme temperatures than those caused by dirty air. This upward trend in temperatures has already been observed in several countries in these regions, including the United States, England, France, Japan and New Zealand.
Dr. Andrea Pozzer, the team leader, provided an alarming statistic.
"In 2000, about 1.6 million people died each year as a result of extreme temperatures from both cold and heat. By the end of the century, in the most likely scenario, the number is set to rise to 10.8 million people, a roughly sevenfold increase," he explained.
Dr Potzer highlighted the impact of air pollution on mortality, saying, "With air pollution, annual deaths in 2000 were about 4.1 million. By the end of the century, that number will rise to 19.5 million, a fivefold increase. Climate change is not just an environmental problem, it is a direct threat to public health."
Supporting the urgency of the problem, Jean Sciar, Director of the Cyprus Institute's Centre for Climate and Atmospheric Research, commented, "There is currently an increasing trend in the risk of climate change: these findings highlight the critical importance of implementing decisive mitigation measures now to prevent future human casualties." | BGNES
