Climate Change Amplifies Heatwave Deaths in Europe
An intense heatwave in June and July claimed the lives of 2300 people across London and 11 other European cities, with climate change nearly tripling the death toll. The impact of climate change on heat-related deaths can take months to determine, but scientists have now devised a method to quickly assess this.
A “heat dome” of high atmospheric pressure brought scorching heat to western and central Europe in late June, with temperatures soaring to nearly 35˚C in London, 40˚C in Paris, and a staggering 46˚C in parts of Spain and Portugal. Wildfires ravaged the Mediterranean region, nuclear reactors were forced to shut down in Switzerland and France, and Italian regions imposed a ban on outdoor labor during the hottest times of the day following a tragic death of a construction worker.
Researchers at the World Weather Attribution network utilized weather data to estimate the intensity of the heatwave without the influence of climate change and then compared it to the actual conditions. By combining their rapid attribution findings with research from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, which mapped the correlation between daily temperatures and excess deaths in European cities, the researchers were able to determine the death toll of climate change during this heatwave.
Their analysis revealed that 2300 individuals lost their lives due to heat between June 23 and July 2 in cities such as Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome, Sassari, and Zagreb. The study indicated that even in a cooler world, the heatwave would have claimed 700 lives. However, due to climate change exacerbating temperatures by up to 4 degrees, an additional 1500 people perished. Heat, being the deadliest form of extreme weather, often exacerbates existing health conditions and is frequently not recorded on death certificates.
This groundbreaking study marks the first time that climate-related deaths have been calculated immediately following a heatwave. In London alone, climate change was accountable for 171 out of 235 fatalities. Team member Friederike Otto from Imperial College London emphasized the urgent need for policymakers to take action in combating climate change.
Furthermore, the research highlighted that 88% of the victims were aged 65 or older, emphasizing the vulnerability of this demographic. However, some experts, such as Kristie Ebi from the University of Washington in Seattle, caution that the actual death toll may be underestimated as the data relies on mortality figures from a cooler period in the past.
Governments are now ramping up heatwave warnings, response plans, and infrastructure to better handle extreme temperatures. Cities like Milan, which suffered the highest death toll with 499 fatalities, are grappling with high levels of air pollution that can be exacerbated by heatwaves. Madrid, where 90% of deaths were attributed to climate change, lacks green spaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
In London, where many buildings are inadequately ventilated, immediate actions such as providing drinking water in tube stations and restricting non-essential car travel during heatwaves are recommended. Educators and officials are urged to raise awareness about the risks of heat-related illnesses, as everyone is susceptible to the dangers of extreme heat.
In conclusion, the recent heatwave in Europe serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its detrimental effects on public health. Improved heatwave response strategies, infrastructure enhancements, and public awareness campaigns are essential to mitigate the impact of extreme temperatures and safeguard vulnerable populations.
