A new study looked at more than one million households in 28 countries. It found that billions of people live with high levels of "cooling poverty". Of nearly three billion people examined, about 1.2 billion are in areas with moderate cooling poverty, around 550 million face severe cooling deprivation, and about 600 million have high deprivation across several areas.
Hot spells are happening more often and are stronger, raising health risks and deaths. Some parts of India and Pakistan already report temperatures above 45°C, and the World Meteorological Organization warns of hotter months because of El Niño. The research says that lack of good housing, health care, water and cooling spaces raises heat risks. It suggests low-cost actions like better housing, more trees and public cooling shelters.
Difficult words
- cooling poverty — lack of ways to reduce dangerous heat at home
- deprivation — state of not having needed things or services
- hot spell — a short period of unusually hot weatherHot spells
- housing — buildings and homes where people live
- shelter — a place that protects people from dangershelters
- research — careful study to find new facts
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which of the suggested actions seems easiest in your area? Why?
- Do you ever feel very hot at home? What do you do?
- How can public cooling shelters help people during hot spells?
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