Divergent trends in demographic and socioeconomic inequalities of global wildfire and compound hazard exposures

This paper aims to investigate global spatiotemporal patterns of heatwaves, wildfires, aerosol pollution, and their compound occurrences, all of which pose escalating environmental and societal risks. Using multisource satellite and reanalysis data from 2002-2023, the study seeks to identify how these hazards evolve over time and vary across regions, as well as to quantify disparities in population exposure. 

Results reveal a widespread increase in heatwaves and related compound events, particularly during boreal summer and autumn, while wildfires and related compound events exhibit greater spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Despite less frequent, compound events lead to significantly greater exposure inequality. Demographic inequality generally declines, while socioeconomic disparities intensify over the past two decades. Economically disadvantaged regions are disproportionately facing higher and faster-growing exposure