A report published on Tuesday reveals that the world has experienced an average of 26 additional days of extreme heat over the past year due to climate change. These heatwaves, which are exacerbated by global warming, are becoming a leading cause of climate-related deaths.

The study, conducted by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, World Weather Attribution, and Climate Central, analyzed data from 1991 to 2020 to determine the increase in extreme heat days. It concluded that human-caused climate change has led to 26 more days of extreme heat on average globally.

According to the report, 2023 was the hottest year on record. Over the past 12 months, approximately 6.3 billion people—about 80% of the global population—experienced at least 31 days of extreme heat. A total of 76 extreme heatwaves were recorded across 90 countries, affecting every continent except Antarctica. Notably, five of the most affected nations were in Latin America.