There’s a catastrophic black hole in our climate data – and it’s a gift to deniers

The Guardian
The Guardian
1w ago 12 views
A new study suggests more people die from cold than heat, but data gaps in hot regions raise concerns about accuracy. This impacts climate action and understanding of climate-related deaths.
There’s a catastrophic black hole in our climate data – and it’s a gift to deniers
A What happened
A study indicates that cold-related deaths outnumber heat-related deaths globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest that 58 times more people die from cold than heat in this region. However, the study's data is limited, as it primarily includes richer, cooler countries, leaving out many hot regions with weak healthcare systems. This lack of data raises questions about the accuracy of the findings. For instance, the international disaster database EM-DAT records very few heatwaves in Africa, despite evidence of extreme heat events. The decline in weather stations across Africa exacerbates the issue, leading to underreporting of climate-related deaths. Without accurate data, it becomes challenging to address the impacts of climate change and provide necessary compensation to vulnerable nations. The situation reflects a broader indifference from wealthy countries towards the consequences of climate change on poorer populations.

Key insights

  • 1

    Data gaps in climate research

    Significant underreporting of heat-related deaths in vulnerable regions.

  • 2

    Cold deaths outnumber heat deaths

    Study suggests a surprising trend in mortality rates related to temperature.

  • 3

    Impact of climate change

    Inaccurate data hampers effective climate action and policy.

Takeaways

The discrepancies in climate data highlight the urgent need for improved monitoring and reporting, particularly in vulnerable regions. Without accurate information, addressing the impacts of climate change remains a significant challenge.

Topics

Health Public Health Culture Society Environment Climate Change