Aren’t the number 1 cause of climate related deaths cold temperatures?
Some parts of the world are going to experience dangerous wet bulb temperatures (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature) as we continue to heat.
This graphic is an indication where these areas will be. Essentially, at the top end of the heating scale, these places will become uninhabitable as a result of the high temperatures combined with high humidity.
(Image source https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6syr/pdf/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf)
Discussion
Interesting question. Extreme temps (hot & cold) are but one of the causes of climate related deaths, others are wildfires, storms, floods, food shortage, disease etc.
With regard to extreme temp deaths this is latest research on the topic https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00081-4/fulltext#tbl1
High level extreme cold is causing more deaths at the moment but heat related deaths are rising, especially related to the observed increase of humidity over land which is impacting wet bulb temperatures significantly in many places.
But heatwaves create havoc on the entire system. Check out this graphic where researchers mapped out the impact of the 2022 Indian heatwaves.
