Reacción a "A study estimates that extreme heat-related physical inactivity could cause more than half a million premature deaths annually by 2050"

Extreme or prolonged heat directly affects our health, particularly because it is associated with problems of the cardiovascular system. It also has indirect effects: for example, it can disrupt basic functions such as sleep, which in turn affects both health and productivity. Heat also influences diet and our healthy habits. This study examines precisely one of these indirect effects, how heat influences sedentary behaviour, an important risk factor associated with premature mortality. The results show that, based on historical relationships between temperature and levels of physical activity, by 2050 there could be an increase of close to 10 % in deaths attributable to heat-induced sedentary behaviour, especially in more vulnerable countries with fewer resources to adapt.

These findings introduce a new dimension to climate justice, as populations with less capacity to adapt may disproportionately suffer these indirect impacts of heat. At the same time, the study opens up an important line of research and action: how to design cities and urban environments that allow people to remain physically active even in hot conditions, through solutions such as shaded spaces, green infrastructure, adapted schedules, and urban environments that reduce thermal exposure.