Billions fated for heat hell

SOME 3.5 billion people will live in scorching conditions within 50 years unless greenhouse gas emissions fall, says a study.

Temperatures averaging 29C-plus are currently found on just 0.8% of the Earth’s land surface, mostly in the Sahara desert.

That could reach 19% and, with population rises, would bring “near unlivable conditions” to billions.

Prof Marten Scheffer of Wageningen University in the Netherlands said: “The only thing that can stop this... is a rapid cut in carbon emissions.”