Climate change is becoming an increasingly urgent issue, as the intensification of extreme weather events makes it even more pressing, creating significant challenges for sustainable development across the globe. In Asia, a continent characterised by vast geographical diversity and varying climate conditions, the disparities in extreme events are particularly pronounced, raising an environmental concern as it has profound implications for public health, agriculture, and overall economic stability.
Recent research by Prof. Qihao Weng’s team, along with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Pir Mohammad, at the JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations and the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University sheds light on the complexities of heat stress in Asia, revealing how different urban and rural populations are exposed to varying levels of heat under different climate change scenarios. Utilising long-term modeled data from both historical (1990-2014) and future projections (2026-2100) based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), this study evaluated heat stress variability across diverse geographic settings in Asia.
This study’s quantitative estimates of heat stress and urban-rural population exposure provide valuable insights for policymakers and authorities. As climate change continues to pose serious risk, it is imperative that decision makers prioritise emergency investments to protect the most vulnerable population. This will be achieved by developing infrastructure and mitigation strategies for heat exposure, such as green spaces in urban areas, early warning systems, and improving access to healthcare for those affected by heat-related illnesses.
For more information, please visit the publication at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197397525000104
Recent research by Prof. Qihao Weng’s team, along with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Pir Mohammad, at the JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations and the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University sheds light on the complexities of heat stress in Asia, revealing how different urban and rural populations are exposed to varying levels of heat under different climate change scenarios. Utilising long-term modeled data from both historical (1990-2014) and future projections (2026-2100) based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), this study evaluated heat stress variability across diverse geographic settings in Asia.
This study’s quantitative estimates of heat stress and urban-rural population exposure provide valuable insights for policymakers and authorities. As climate change continues to pose serious risk, it is imperative that decision makers prioritise emergency investments to protect the most vulnerable population. This will be achieved by developing infrastructure and mitigation strategies for heat exposure, such as green spaces in urban areas, early warning systems, and improving access to healthcare for those affected by heat-related illnesses.
For more information, please visit the publication at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197397525000104
