• Dubbed a 'silent killer', extreme heat causes almost half a million deaths annually.
• The rate of warming is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, creating significant risks for vulnerable populations.
• The world must shift to proactive resilience investments in order to mitigate the consequences of extreme heat.

Extreme heat is the deadliest climate risk of our time. It claims 489,000 deaths annually - more than floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires combined.

Earth's average surface temperature in 2024 was the warmest on record, averaging 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.

This milestone has come with devastating consequences for human health, productivity and social stability around the world.

Despite its impact, extreme heat is referred to as a 'silent killer', as it lacks the visibility of other extreme weather events.

So what are the causes, impacts and solutions to this global threat? 

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