A new study suggests more people die from cold than heat, but data gaps in hot regions raise concerns about accuracy. This impacts climate action and understanding of climate-related deaths.

A study indicates that cold-related deaths outnumber heat-related deaths globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest that 58 times more people die from cold than heat in this region. However, the study's data is limited, as it primarily includes richer, cooler countries, leaving out many hot regions with weak healthcare systems. This lack of data raises questions about the accuracy of the findings. For instance, the international disaster database EM-DAT records very few heatwaves in Africa, despite evidence of extreme heat events. The decline in weather stations across Africa exacerbates the issue, leading to underreporting of climate-related deaths. Without accurate data, it becomes challenging to address the impacts of climate change and provide necessary compensation to vulnerable nations. The situation reflects a broader indifference from wealthy countries towards the consequences of climate change on poorer populations.