Study reveals that extreme weather harms Latino, Black and Asian communities the most. The publication in the journal Science Advances states that climate change is increasing the frequency of both dangers, especially in California.
The authors found that the combined damage of extreme heat and smoke inhalation caused by wildfires increased hospitalizations, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and Latinos, Black, Asian, and other racially marginalized residents. Experts warn that climateChange – which is worsening extreme weather events such as droughts, heat waves and forest fires – will increase the frequency and intensity with which they occur simultaneously.