Establishing intensifying chronic exposure to extreme heat as a slow onset event with implications for health, wellbeing, productivity, society and economy

Oppermann, Elspeth; Kjellstrom, Tord; Lemke, Bruno; Otto, Matthias und Lee, Jason Kai Wei (2021): Establishing intensifying chronic exposure to extreme heat as a slow onset event with implications for health, wellbeing, productivity, society and economy. In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Vol. 50: pp. 225-235

Abstract

The Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage has identified increasing temperatures as a key slow onset event. However, it is the resulting increases in short-term heat events - heatwaves - that have so far been the primary focus of risk assessment and policy, while gradual and sustained increases in temperature have received less attention. This is a global issue but particularly important in tropical and subtropical regions already chronically exposed to extreme heat. This paper reviews recent analyses of intensifying seasonal and year-round extreme heat exposures and how this affects daily life, including worker productivity, health and wellbeing, reduced GDP and economic viability. It frames this as a slow onset event and closes with a brief indication of tools available to assess and address these risks.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Research Centers: Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society (RCC)
• Subjects: 500 Science > 500 Science
• ISSN: 1877-3435
• Language: English