An MIT study, published in the Journal of Climate, illuminates the global impact of climate change on destinations worldwide. By the century’s end, northern countries will experience earlier spring-like winters, while southern regions, including parts of Europe and the southern U.S., will witness fewer mild weather days annually.
Utilizing data from 50 climate models, the research forecasts the future count of “outdoor days” across various destinations until 2100.
MIT environmental engineering professor Elfatih Eltahir, leading the study, emphasized to Bloomberg the direct impact of these changes on global perceptions of climate change. The implications extend to quality of life, travel, and tourism, with distinct consequences for different regions.
The study indicates that Russia, Canada, and other northern countries will gain more outdoor days, contrasting with fewer days for developing nations like Ivory Coast, highlighting a stark divide between the Global North and the Global South.
In Europe, countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria are projected to gain up to 60 outdoor days by 2100, primarily due to warmer winters, posing challenges for the skiing industry.
Conversely, Greece faces an estimated loss of over 30 outdoor days by 2100, attributed to soaring summer temperatures from May to September in the Mediterranean region.
O’Shannon Burns, a sustainable tourism consultant at Cornell University’s Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, emphasized to Bloomberg the novelty of using outdoor days to highlight climate change impacts. She noted the profound implications for the travel sector, emphasizing the depth of its vulnerability to climate change.
