Increasing heat-stress inequality in a warming climate

Study key findings & significance

• The study provides evidence of historical heat-stress inequality across the globe.
• Heatwave exposure has disproportionately increased in the lowest-income regions globally compared to the highest-income regions over the past four decades.
• Lagged adaptation in the lower-income region translates to escalating heatwave exposure and increased heat-stress inequality.
• The lowest-income quarter of the population will see almost as much exposure to heatwaves as the rest of the population combined over 2090-99.