Climate change could mean more heatwave deaths

Climate change scenarios predict that by the end of the century Chicago could experience between 166 and 2,217 excess deaths per year due to increased heatwaves.

The three scenarios were based on estimates from seven global climate change models and from mortality and air pollution data for the city of Chicago from 1987 to 2005.

“Our study looks to quantify the impact of increased heat waves on human mortality,” says lead author Roger Peng.

“For a major U.S. city like Chicago, the impact will likely be profound and potentially devastating.”