The number of people who die from unbearable heat in England and Wales could increase fifty people because of climate change, experts have warned.
Scientists analyzed the effects of 15 different scenarios in the next 50 years and combined different levels of global warming with different adaptation levels, an aging population and regional climatic differences.
Their findings, which so far offer ‘the most extensive projections’ for England and Wales, say that there could be 34,000 annual heat-related deaths in a worst-case scenario by 2070.
This is more than 50 times higher than the contemporary basic line of 634 annual heat -related deaths, they warned.
Even under the most optimistic scenario, heat-related deaths will increase to six-time, according to the study.
And they warned the findings ‘painted a sobering picture of the consequences of climate change’.
Main author Dr. Rebecca Cole of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: ‘How we as a society adapt to our changing climate will have a huge effect on people’s well -being.
“Our research shows how the increase in heat-related deaths is not only a result of rising temperatures also driven by how we build our cities, take care of vulnerable populations and tackle social inequality.”
Researchers said that the annual number of heat -related deaths in the UK could rise to fifty simple due to climate change. Displayed: Brighton Beach during a heat wave on June 30
In June, two heat waves were confirmed in England and Wales – one in the third week of the month and the second end of the month. Shown: London on June 20
Scientists warn that the chances that the UK will be 40 ° C in the coming 12 years are now 50/50, 60 times higher than the chances in 1960
The record setting hot summer of 2022, where temperatures are breaking the 40 ° C-Mark for the first time in the UK, saw 2,985 surplus heat deaths, the researchers said.
They warned that by 2050 this could become the ‘new normal’, because global warming causes ever -growing temperatures.
In January, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2024 was the hottest since the records started and reached 1.55 ° C above pre-industrial levels.
And recent predictions show that the temperatures are expected to go on or almost record levels for the next five years.
As part of the new study, experts set the most optimistic scenario in the warming of 1.6 ° C, with high levels of adaptation to protect against the effects of a warming climate.
Even under this scenario, the annual heat-related deaths would rise to 3,007 a year by the 2050s, 4,004 by the 2060s and 4,592 in the 2070s, they said.
Their worst-case scenario sets global warming at 4.3 ° C with minimal adjustment, which could lead to 10,317 heat-related deaths per year in the 2050s, 19,478 by the 2060s and 34,027 in the 2070s.
Senior author Dr. Clare Heaviside, from University College London, said: ‘Our cooperation investigation paints a sobering picture of the consequences of climate change, under a series of potential social and economic paths.
Even under the most optimistic scenario, heat-related deaths will increase to six-time, according to the study. Depicted: people who enjoy the sunshine on Jubilee Beach in Southend
Prior to people who influence the climate with greenhouse gases, June would only see a day of 32 ° C (90 ° F) reaching a day per 2500 years. Now it comes once every 25. Displayed: people who enjoy the sun in Potters Fields, London
The recent temperatures that Europe test too much are caused by a heat umbrella. Although these events are of course, the resulting heat wave has been considerably hetero made by climate change
‘In the next 50 years, the health effects of a warming climate will be considerable.
“We can reduce their severity by reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and with carefully planned adjustments, but we have to start now.”
Potential adjustments can include steps such as the use of passive cooling systems such as cool and green roofs, better building ventilation and heat management.
Active cooling systems such as air conditioning can also help, in addition to shady urban forests and larger community support for vulnerable populations.
The researchers also warned that in the next 50 years the population of England and Wales is expected to agree considerably, with the largest increase in the population size for people aged 65 and older.
Most earlier research into the future impact of heat tester did not take into account the impact of an aging population, which led to an underestimation of its death, they said.
In general, they found that heat dying rates in the south are generally expected to increase more than the rates in the north.
The findings were published in the magazine Plos -climate.
Although many people enjoy warmer weather, the temperatures of more than 28 ° C (82.4 ° F) can be dangerous, especially for the elderly. Shown: a woman sunbathing in St James’s park in London today when temperatures start to rise
Scientists discovered that three-day heat waves in Southeast England are now 3 ° C (5.4 ° F) hotter because of the man-made climate change that heats the planet
It is expected that heat waves will become more often and more intense in the coming decades in the UK.
The most recent heat wave of the UK, which saw the temperature reaching 35 ° C, were caused by global warming, said it with Office.
“Previous studies have shown that it is almost certain that human influence has increased the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events as it has increased,” said Dr. Amy Doherty, met office climate scientist.
‘Numerous climate description studies have shown that the influence of man has increased the chance that specific extreme heat events would occur, such as the summer of 2018 and July 2022.
‘Our with Office climate forecasts indicate that hot spells will become more frequent in our future climate, especially southeast of the UK.
“The temperatures are expected to rise in all seasons, but the heat would be the most intense in the summer.”
The warning when it confirmed with Office that last month was the most popular June in England.
Average temperatures reached a sultry 16.9 ° C – the highest registered since the series started in 1884.
Eat spicy chili, tikka masala, a Thai curry or soup to keep cool in the heat wave, experts say
You may not think that a spicy Chile, Tikka Masla Curry and soup are the best things to eat to cool during the heat wave.
But it turns out that having a hot meal in the evening can really help you stay cool through the sweat that you perspires that evaporate in the air and cools the body.
A chili can also be useful, with the capsaicin in the food sending a signal to your brain that your body is overheated – so you will sweat more to cool down.
The powerful anti -inflammatory effects of turmeric make a Tikka Masala curry a good option
A bowl of soup in the evening because the temperatures are starting to fall, people can actually help stay cool
Watermelon has citrulline, an amino acid that relaxes you and helps to dilate blood vessels
In watermelon, turmeric and reducing carbohydrates and proteins in your diet there are also good ways to beat the heat.
Nutritionist Daniel O’Shaughnessy has collaborated with online delivery company Justeat to put together a list of the best foods to eat or avoid to cool down.
Traditionally as a winter dish, a bowl of soup in the evening can fall when temperatures start to fall, people actually help to stay cool, Mr. O’Shaughnessy explained.
He said, “It will make you perspire more, but as sweat evaporates, the energy is absorbed in the air, so that the body is cooled.”
Mr. O’Shaughnessy also believes that a spicy Chile is a good choice, where the capsaicin in the food sends a signal to your brain that your body is overheated.
As a result, you will sweat more to cool down. The powerful anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric also make a Tikka Masala curry a good option in the heat.
Curcumin, the active ingredient in the herb, helps to promote good circulation, so that your blood flow is accelerated and your body cools down.
Mr O’Shaughnessy also mentioned onions as a top choice, in which the vegetables are used in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional form of Indian medicine that is more than 3000 years old to treat a heat -polish.
Other heating choices recommended by the nutritionist include Mint, thanks to the cooling feeling, as well as spinach, which contains the vitamins and minerals that are needed to keep your blood pressure under control and keep you cool.
Mr O’Shaaughnessy said that coconut milk found in Thai green curry has important nutrients to support hydration, exhaustion and muscle pain in warm weather.
And watermelon, which contains a lot of water content, also contains citrulline, an amino acid that relaxes and helps to dilate blood vessels, which means that more blood can circulate around your body and you can cool down.
But there are some foods to avoid, with Mr O’Shaughnessy British advising to reduce carbohydrate -rich foods such as rice and whole -grain, and foods with many proteins such as chicken.
He said: ‘It might be harder to digest a high protein food in a heat wave. Meat is quite difficult to digest and the digestive process creates warmth (thermogenesis) and can feel hotter in yourself.
“Choosing vegetable dishes can be a good choice because less energy is needed to break down vegetarian dishes compared to meat.”
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