Article
Environmental Sciences
Nidhi Nishant, Fei Ji, Yuming Guo, Nicholas Herold, Donna Green, Giovanni Di Virgilio, Kathleen Beyer, Matthew L. Riley, Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick
Summary: This study estimates changes in future exposure to heatwaves over Australia and finds that the trends in exposure are projected to accelerate in the future. Anthropogenic climate change is identified as the key contributor to future heatwave exposure increase.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Huiqi Chen, Liang Zhao, Liangliang Cheng, Yali Zhang, Huibin Wang, Kuiying Gu, Junzhe Bao, Jun Yang, Zhao Liu, Jianbin Huang, Yidan Chen, Xuejie Gao, Ying Xu, Can Wang, Wenjia Cai, Peng Gong, Yong Luo, Wannian Liang, Cunrui Huang
Summary: Heat-related mortality in China is projected to increase due to climate change and population aging, even under low emission scenarios. Achieving the 1.5 degrees C warming target can significantly reduce the mortality burden. Carbon neutrality by mid-century is crucial for China's sustainable development.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Zhi-Ying Zhan, Jun Yang, Xue Zhong, Xiao-Xu Xie, De-Li Liu, Zhen-Quan Zheng, Zhi-Jian Hu
Summary: Future climate changes are expected to adversely affect mortality risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in urbanized areas. However, the impact of future temperature on CVD hospitalizations in rural residents with poorer socioeconomic status is not well studied. This study reveals that heat-related hospitalizations for certain CVD subcategories are projected to increase in the future, with rural population aging amplifying the burden. These findings highlight the need for policies to mitigate rising temperatures and baseline hospitalization rates, and address the impact of population aging.
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pin Wang, Hang Wai Tong, Tsz Cheung Lee, William B. Goggins
Summary: This study projected mortality rates in Hong Kong under different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) using annual data from 1976 to 2018. The results showed that under RCPs 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5, there would be net increases in mortality rates due to an excess of hot days outweighing the decrease in cold days. Higher mortality rates were projected for individuals over 75 years old and for cardiovascular deaths. Human adaptation measures might not be sufficient to offset the adverse impact of climate change. Better public adaptation strategies are needed to cope with the health impacts of climate change in Hong Kong.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jiangdong Liu, Hang Dong, Mengmeng Li, Ying Wu, Chunlin Zhang, Jinjian Chen, Zhou Yang, Guozhen Lin, De Li Liu, Jun Yang
Summary: This study comprehensively assessed the impact of heatwaves and their characteristics on public health in China under various climate change scenarios. The results showed that heatwave-related excess mortality will continue to increase in the future, with intensity being the main factor of concern. The duration of heatwaves was found to have the largest mortality burden among all characteristics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuwei Wang, Na Zhao, Xiaozhe Yin, Chaoyang Wu, Mingxing Chen, Yimeng Jiao, Tianxiang Yue
Summary: The increasing exposure to extreme heatwaves in urban areas poses various threats and challenges to human society. Current research on this topic has limitations in terms of oversimplification of human exposure to heatwaves and neglect of perceived temperature and body comfort, leading to unreliable estimates of future results. This study provides the first global fine-resolution projection of future urban population exposure to heatwaves by 2100, indicating the rising exposure in all four shared socioeconomic pathways. The results highlight the need for policy improvements and sustainable development planning in coastal and low-altitude cities.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Robert Jandl, Cecilie Birgitte Foldal, Thomas Ledermann, Georg Kindermann
Summary: This study evaluates the role and habitat expansion of European beech in Central Europe under climate change. The results show that the habitat of beech may significantly increase in the next 60 years, but vulnerability to drought and pathogens are limiting factors. The future habitat will depend on factors such as forest resilience, market opportunities, and adaptive forest management.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aaron Hasenei, Jennifer M. Donelson, Timothy Ravasi, Jodie L. Rummer
Summary: Elasmobranchs, such as sharks, skates, and rays, have strong evolutionary adaptability and may provide important perspectives on phenotypic plasticity and adaptation in response to climate change. However, due to their long lifespan and delayed sexual maturity, research on the phenotypic plasticity of elasmobranch species remains limited.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Nicholas J. Leach, Peter A. G. N. Watson, Sarah N. Sparrow, David C. H. Wallom, David M. H. Sexton
Summary: Recent extreme weather events around the world highlight the importance of studying present and future extreme events under global warming. This study presents a methodology for efficiently sampling extreme events in future climate projections. By examining the UK's national Climate Projections, the researchers find that the current ensemble of climate projections is too small to adequately capture extreme events with very high return periods. To address this issue, they use distributed computing to run additional ensembles and find that these ensembles contain extreme events that would require a much larger ensemble size to sample with current computing resources. The study suggests that these ensembles provide valuable and comprehensive samples of extreme events for various applications.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE EXTREMES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christopher Hebbern, Pierre Gosselin, Kai Chen, Hong Chen, Sabit Cakmak, Melissa MacDonald, Jonathan Chagnon, Patrice Dion, Laurent Martel, Eric Lavigne
Summary: This study evaluates temperature-related mortality in different age groups in Canada. The findings suggest that under climate change, there may be an increase in heat-related mortality rates by 2099. The aging population could exacerbate this situation. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the impacts of future climate change.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luke J. Harrington, Kristie L. Ebi, David J. Frame, Friederike E. L. Otto
Summary: Citizens in many countries are currently experiencing record-breaking heatwaves that have been exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change. The question of whether similar heatwaves could have occurred in pre-industrial climates, which was traditionally a central focus of attribution research, is becoming increasingly irrelevant. The next frontier for attribution science is to provide information for adaptation decision-making in the face of unprecedented future heat.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Oran R. Young
Summary: There is debate about whether the Arctic is distinctive and uniform enough to adopt a holistic perspective for its future. Climate change is seen as a central thread tying together various perspectives, while also raising questions about how to address the consequences of adapting to a changing biophysical and socioeconomic setting in the Arctic's future.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lee-Yaw Lin, Cheng-Ting Lin, Yung-Ming Chen, Chao-Tzuen Cheng, Hsin-Chi Li, Wei-Bo Chen
Summary: The Taiwan Climate Change Projection Information and Adaptation Knowledge Platform (TCCIP) is a decade-long climate research project funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan. This paper outlines the evolution and major achievements of the project.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Ting Chen, Hong-Yan Liu, Chong-Yang Xu, Xiu-Chen Wu, Bo-Yi Liang, Jing Cao, Deliang Chen
Summary: Climate warming has varying effects on vegetation growth in different regions. Under sustainable development scenario, there is no significant change in vegetation growth, but under high carbon emissions and severe warming scenario, vegetation growth may increase significantly in Northeast Asia. This is likely due to the high temperature sensitivities of deciduous needleleaf forests and permanent wetlands in these regions. When the temperature sensitivity exceeds 0.05, the increase in vegetation growth becomes more prominent.
ADVANCES IN CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
I Hagen, C. Huggel, L. Ramajo, N. Chacon, J. P. Ometto, J. C. Postigo, E. J. Castellanos
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive assessment and synthesis of climate-related risks and adaptation potential in Central and South America. The study identifies various risks, such as food insecurity, floods and landslides, water scarcity, epidemics of vector-borne diseases, biome shift in the Amazon Forest, coral bleaching, coastal risks, and systemic failure due to cascading impacts. The analysis also highlights the importance of strengthening adaptive capacity and conducting further research on the risk-adaptation nexus in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Whanhee Lee, Munjeong Choi, Michelle L. Bell, Cinoo Kang, Jeongju Jang, Insung Song, Yong-Ook Kim, Kristie Ebi, Ho Kim
Summary: This study examines the differential effects of urbanization on heat vulnerability in urban and rural areas using nationwide data. The findings reveal that the relationship between population density and heat-mortality risk differs between urban and rural areas, and district characteristics associated with heat-mortality risk also vary by urbanicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiyun Jung, Eun-Mi Lee, Woojae Myung, Hyekyeong Kim, Ho Kim, Hyewon Lee
Summary: This study investigates the association between Asian dust storms and premature mortality in Seoul, South Korea. The results suggest that exposure to dust storms significantly increases the years of life lost, particularly in relation to cardiovascular mortality.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
Hang Ngo, Dao Chi Vo, Kristie L. Ebi, Amy Hagopian
Summary: This study investigates the health status of Mekong Delta migrants in Ho Chi Minh City and explores the impact of weather and climate variability on their health. Migration is found to be a strategy to cope with livelihood insecurity, but precarious living conditions in the city contribute to changes in migrants' health status. Additionally, climate variability poses a threat to migrants' health and livelihoods.
CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chaerin Park, Juyeon Yang, Whanhee Lee, Cinoo Kang, In-Kyung Song, Ho Kim
Summary: This study examined the association between temperature and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) using a time-series analysis. The results showed that cold temperatures had a greater impact on OHCA than hot temperatures. The effects of temperature on OHCA were more evident in populations with hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Additionally, the impacts of heat on OHCA increased in recent years, while those of cold temperatures decreased. These findings provide scientific evidence for policymakers to mitigate the burden of OHCA attributed to temperature.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shilu Tong, Paul J. Beggs, Janet M. Davies, Fan Jiang, Patrick L. Kinney, Shijian Liu, Yong Yin, Kristie L. Ebi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jung Eun Park, Jun Young Lee, Jungho Chae, Chang Ho Min, Hee Soon Shin, So Young Lee, Jae Young Lee, Jeong Hoon Park, Jongho Jeon
Summary: Exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM) can cause severe respiratory diseases and toxic effects on extrapulmonary organs, as shown by molecular imaging and radiolabeling techniques in animal models. DPM was primarily distributed in the lungs, but also translocated to other organs such as the heart, spleen, and liver.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jae Young Lee
Summary: This study presents a new method, called the subgroup method, for predicting future vulnerability to high temperatures. By considering demographic changes, the subgroup method is able to provide a more accurate estimation of future adaptation rates compared to a simple extrapolation method. The study found that, in a fast-aging country like South Korea, the older population has a slower adaptation rate to extreme temperatures compared to the younger population. The study emphasizes the importance of considering demographic changes in projecting future temperature-related vulnerability.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Timothy M. Lenton, Chi Xu, Jesse F. Abrams, Ashish Ghadiali, Sina Loriani, Boris Sakschewski, Caroline Zimm, Kristie L. Ebi, Robert R. Dunn, Jens-Christian Svenning, Marten Scheffer
Summary: The costs of climate change are often expressed in monetary terms, but this brings up ethical concerns. This study calculates the costs in terms of the number of people excluded from the 'human climate niche', which represents the historically consistent distribution of population density with respect to temperature. It was found that current climate policies leading to 2.7 degrees C global warming by the end of the century could leave one-third of the global population outside this niche, emphasizing the urgency for decisive action to address climate change.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Development Studies
Kathryn J. Bowen, Kristie L. Ebi, Alistair Woodward, Lachlan McIver, Collin Tukuitonga, Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle
Summary: Observed climate changes in Pacific island countries are having detrimental effects on the health of communities. These changes include increased frequency and intensity of cyclones, more extremely hot days, and changes in rainfall patterns. Without strong mitigation and adaptation measures, these impacts are projected to worsen. Significant gaps in knowledge on national health risks and adaptation in the face of climate change have been highlighted in recent assessments. To increase resilience in the Pacific, investment and support are needed in areas such as health workforce capacity development, surveillance and monitoring systems, and research on understanding risks and effective interventions.
CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Chang Hyeok Kim, Jeongho Kim, Kyucheol Hwang, Pilho Kim, Su Hyun Shin, Jong-Sung Park, Sechan Park, Gahye Lee, Jae Young Lee, Jong Bum Kim
Summary: The study investigated the mass concentrations and chemical compositions of PM2.5 and analyzed the characteristics of high concentration episodes. It found that both domestic and foreign sources contribute to high PM2.5 levels, with different chemical components playing a significant role. These findings provide insights for understanding high PM2.5 events and developing air quality improvement policies.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN SOCIETY FOR ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinah Park, Cinoo Kang, Jieun Min, Ejin Kim, Insung Song, Hyemin Jang, Dohoon Kwon, Jieun Oh, Jeongmin Moon, Ho Kim, Whanhee Lee
Summary: This study investigates the association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and chronic sleep deprivation through a nationwide survey in South Korea. The findings show a positive correlation between long-term PM2.5 exposure and chronic sleep deprivation, with a stronger effect in the elderly population.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jeremy J. Hess, Timothy J. Sheehan, Alyssa Miller, Rad Cunningham, Nicole A. Errett, Tania Busch Isaksen, Jason Vogel, Kristie L. Ebi
Summary: This study develops a heat health risk model using the IPCC risk framework, providing location-specific insights into risk drivers and prioritization of risk reduction interventions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Charles H. Simpson, Oscar Brousse, Kristie L. Ebi, Clare Heaviside
Summary: Irrigation and urban greening can have both positive and negative impacts on heat stress. The choice of heat stress indices (HSIs) plays a critical role in evaluating these impacts. Our method provides a useful tool for comparing HSIs and highlights the importance of considering both temperature and humidity. It has significant implications for assessing the effectiveness of adaptive responses to overheating and climate adaptation measures.
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ben Stewart-Koster, Stuart E. Bunn, Pamela Green, Christopher Ndehedehe, Lauren S. Andersen, David I. Armstrong McKay, Xuemei Bai, Fabrice DeClerck, Kristie L. Ebi, Christopher Gordon, Joyeeta Gupta, Syezlin Hasan, Lisa Jacobson, Steven J. Lade, Diana Liverman, Sina Loriani, Awaz Mohamed, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, David Obura, Dahe Qin, Crelis Rammelt, Juan C. Rocha, Johan Rockstroem, Peter H. Verburg, Caroline Zimm
Summary: This study assesses whether renewable surface water is enough to meet people's basic needs and estimates that approximately 2.6 billion people live in river basins where groundwater is needed, while over 1.4 billion people would require demand-side transformations and another 1.5 billion people would require both supply and demand-side transformations. These findings highlight the challenges and opportunities of meeting basic water access needs and protecting aquatic ecosystems.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Hyeshin Hwang, Younghye Ro, Hyunkyoung Lee, Jihyeon Kim, Kyunghyun Lee, Eun-Jin Choi, You-Chan Bae, ByungJae So, Dohoon Kwon, Ho Kim, Inhyung Lee
Summary: The number of horses with hindlimb ataxia has rapidly increased in South Korea, with the environment and climate change playing a significant role. Further research and preventive measures are needed.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)