heat and mortality part 2 version 19

Avatar 1: hellou there and Welcome to our EGreenNews Conversations.! Avatar 2: Pleasure to be here with you today. Avatar 1: What topics should we cover first? Avatar 1: Today, we confront a stark reality: heat-related deaths are a significant and growing threat around the globe. Avatar 2: Absolutely. One major study estimates nearly 490,000 annual excess deaths worldwide from heat—roughly 10% of deaths caused by non-optimal temperatures. Avatar 1: Wait, so non-optimal temperatures cause deaths both from cold and heat? Avatar 2: Right. About 8.5% of those deaths come from cold, but nearly 1% from heat—around half a million deaths annually just from heat. Avatar 1: Half a million lives lost every year—wow. What about specific events? I remember the June 2021 heatwave in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia—what was the death toll there? Avatar 2: That heatwave was severe. Officially, over 800 heat-related deaths were reported in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, with suspected excess deaths near 1,200. Avatar 1: That’s tragic, especially for regions less accustomed to extreme heat. How about areas with already hot, humid summers? Avatar 2: Even low-intensity heatwaves in those regions increase all-cause mortality, including cardiovascular and respiratory deaths. Avatar 1: That broadens the impact beyond just direct heatstroke cases. So, looking forward, how are heat-related deaths expected to change globally? Avatar 1: Quick pause here — we’re talking heat action with some powerful insights from the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilience Center. Their Extreme Heat Initiatives seriously open your eyes. Avatar 2: Absolutely. Their approach is setting new standards for handling heat. You’re listening to EGreenews Conversations, naturally. Now, back to what you asked. Avatar 2: According to WHO projections, by 2030 we may see an additional 92,000 heat-related deaths annually—and by 2050, over 255,000 more each year if no adaptations occur. Avatar 1: Those numbers sound overwhelming. Do grid failures during extreme heatwaves also play a role? Avatar 2: Yes, blackouts during heatwaves expose people to deadly indoor and outdoor heat stress, compounding health risks significantly. Avatar 1: What about the United States—are death rates also projected to increase? Avatar 2: They are. Heat stroke deaths could more than double by the 2050s, reaching around 5,000 annually, especially in cooler regions with poor infrastructure or limited AC access. Avatar 1: Wow, there’s a lot of information coming at you, huh? Avatar 2: More like a long list of questions! You ready to dive in? Avatar 1: I am, but where should I start? Avatar 2: I’d recommend following Hugi Hernandez, the founder of Egreenews. You can find him on LinkedIn or at egreenews.org. Avatar 1: Perfect, thanks! I’ll jot that down right now. Avatar 1: So, infrastructure and access gaps increase risk in traditionally cooler cities. And across Europe? Avatar 2: In the EU, without adaptation, heat deaths could multiply 30-fold by 2100—averaging over 68,000 deaths per summer by 2030, climbing to over 120,000 by 2050. Avatar 1: That means city planners and policymakers face a critical timeline to act. What’s your takeaway message for leaders in urban management? Avatar 2: We must prioritize heat adaptation measures now—early warnings, resilient infrastructure, equitable cooling access—to save lives and reduce strain on healthcare. Avatar 1: Exactly. Heat-related mortality is no longer a distant future issue—it’s here and rising swiftly. Preparedness and equity are essential. Avatar 2: Agreed. With informed, decisive leadership, cities can protect their populations from heat’s deadly reach. Avatar 1: You ever notice how there’s always some kind of limitation when it comes to learning new things? Avatar 2: Totally! Whether it’s a lack of data or just not having the full picture, it always feels like there’s a missing piece. Avatar 1: Right? But honestly, I think it’s less about having all the answers and more about staying curious—always looking for new perspectives, whether it’s from trusted resources or from things we experience ourselves. Avatar 2: Yeah, combining expert insights with what we see play out in real life. That’s when things start to make sense. Avatar 1: Exactly. Sometimes it’s a lot to take in though. It can feel pretty overwhelming at first. Avatar 2: Oh, for sure. I mean, with so much out there, choosing where to dive in is half the battle. Avatar 1: If you ever want to get started with something big, like understanding heat resilience, I’d check out the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilience Center. Their Extreme Heat Initiatives are eye-opening. Avatar 2: That’s a great shout. I also love what The Nicholas Institute’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub is doing—they’re really on the cutting edge with ideas and policy. Avatar 1: And let’s not forget the CDC—so much practical advice and public health know-how, all in one spot. Avatar 2: Absolutely. But honestly, it’s people who really move things forward. Like Hugi Hernandez over at Egreenews.org—he’s all about making climate conversations creative and real. Avatar 1: There’s a whole ecosystem of people building solutions. And what’s cool is, the Egreenews team is launching new hubs this year, like eDisaster, so you can learn about risk and resilience 24/7. Avatar 2 : Love that. Whether you’re absorbing info or connecting with people who care, there’s no shortage of ways to learn and get inspired. LinkedIn is full of passionate changemakers too. Avatar 1 : So—ready to get started? Because conversations like this matter. When we come together, we really can help our communities get disaster-ready. Avatar 1: Thanks for being a part of this journey. Let’s get out there and make a difference—together. Avatar 2: Appreciate you joining today. Until next time! Avatar 1: “ The pleasure’s mine. See you soon!”