The planet is getting hotter because of human activity, and if not curtailed, scientists say the number of heat-related deaths will continue to sharply rise.
Greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation have been at the forefront of climate change, causing extreme weather events that endanger lives across the globe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 600 people in the United States die from heat-related deaths each year.
Listen to your favorite News/Talk station now on Audacy
To combat the effects of extreme weather, professor Kristie Ebi at the Center for Health and the Global Environment said everyone will need a heat action plan.
"We know that nearly all deaths from the heatwave are preventable and without putting up plans in place, more people are going to die in the heat that don’t need to," Ebi told KCBS Radio.
The heat action plans have two basic components, Ebi explained. The short-term solution is to create an early warning and response system where people most at risk of heat-related illnesses are alerted when temperatures soar.
However, in the long-term, "our cities will need to be modified," the professor warned.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram