Heat-related deaths in low-income and middle-income countries are projected to be 10 times higher than in richer nations by 2050, with over 90 per cent of additional deaths linked to rising temperatures expected to occur in poorer regions, says a report by the Climate Impact Lab. The findings point to a widening gap in climate impacts, driven by both exposure to higher temperatures and limited capacity to adapt. Regions that are already hot and have lower income levels are expected to see the sharpest rise in mortality, reflecting constraints in access to cooling, healthcare and infrastructure. “This report uncovers one of climate change’s cruelest ironies — it is projected to kill millions of people in the countries that have generally done the least to cause it,” said Michael Greenstone, co-founder of the Climate Impact Lab.
In the News • March 25, 2026
Heat deaths in poorer countries to be 10 times higher than in rich nations by 2050 Report
ET Energy World reports on Climate Impact Lab’s latest study, warning that over 90% of additional heat-related deaths will occur in low and middle-income countries.