By 2050, 90% of N.C. will be above "cancel activity" level temps in the summer
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The majority of the world will be too hot to host the Summer Olympics by 2050. That includes North Carolina.
By the numbers: An Axios analysis of CarbonPlan data finds that, in 2050, 60% of locations globally will experience Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures above 82°F, the American College of Sports Medicine's recommended threshold for canceling outdoor, continuous activity to avoid heat illness.
- CarbonPlan's models estimate that 90.2% of weather stations in North Carolina would experience temperatures above the "cancel activity" level in 2050, compared to 78.3% of stations in 2020.
How it works: The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature metric takes into account air temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind to assess the risk of heat illness. It is widely used to determine safe temperatures for physical activity.
The big picture: While North Carolina might not ever host the Olympics, these models have sobering implications for all future outdoor sports and recreation.
- The next Summer Olympics will be hosted in Los Angeles, where the International Olympics Committee is already planning to implement heat protocols.
- The U.S. will be a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, too.
Read the full interactive project about how extreme heat is impacting the Olympics.