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Global Population Exposed to Extreme Events in the 150 Most Populated Cities of the World: Implications for Public Health

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  • Linze Li

    (Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA
    School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Chengsheng Jiang

    (Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA)

  • Raghu Murtugudde

    (Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA)

  • Xin-Zhong Liang

    (Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA)

  • Amir Sapkota

    (Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA)

Abstract

Climate change driven increases in the frequency of extreme heat events (EHE) and extreme precipitation events (EPE) are contributing to both infectious and non-infectious disease burden, particularly in urban city centers. While the share of urban populations continues to grow, a comprehensive assessment of populations impacted by these threats is lacking. Using data from weather stations, climate models, and urban population growth during 1980–2017, here, we show that the concurrent rise in the frequency of EHE, EPE, and urban populations has resulted in over 500% increases in individuals exposed to EHE and EPE in the 150 most populated cities of the world. Since most of the population increases over the next several decades are projected to take place in city centers within low- and middle-income countries, skillful early warnings and community specific response strategies are urgently needed to minimize public health impacts and associated costs to the global economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Linze Li & Chengsheng Jiang & Raghu Murtugudde & Xin-Zhong Liang & Amir Sapkota, 2021. "Global Population Exposed to Extreme Events in the 150 Most Populated Cities of the World: Implications for Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:3:p:1293-:d:490971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ianis Delpla & Thierno Amadou Diallo & Michael Keeling & Olivier Bellefleur, 2021. "Tools and Methods to Include Health in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies and Policies: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.

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