Population exposure to compound climate extremes: global analysis to identify continent wise age group disparities in a warming world

This study investigated the growing risks posed by compound climate extremes, and their differential impacts by age and region. Compound extremes refer to simultaneous or successive occurrence of extreme events such as heat waves, cold waves, floods, and drought. As the trend of these events continues to increase, and demographic shifts continually change patterns of exposure across the world, this study provides a unique age-disaggregated approach.

The study shows that there are significant disparities in exposure to compound climate extremes between developed and developing countries, driven by climate and population change. Heat-related compound extremes pose the greatest risk, particularly in Africa and Asia. In Africa, children nd youth are particularly vulnerable. By contrast, in Europe, the elderly are most exposed to both heat and cold extremes. Across the world, changing climate is the major contributor to rising exposure for all age groups.