A recent study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has revealed that Europe has adapted better to cold temperatures than to high temperatures in the past two decades. The research, published in The Lancet Planetary Health and done in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), analyzed temperature and mortality data from over 800 regions in 35 European countries from 2003 to 2020.
The study found that there has been a significant decrease in cold-related mortality risk over the years, with a 2% reduction per year. While there has also been a decrease in heat-related deaths, it was at a lower average rate of 1% per year. The researchers introduced a new concept called Extreme-Risk Temperature (ERT) to account for regional differences in vulnerability to temperature extremes.
Using this new approach, the team observed a decrease in dangerously cold days (cold-ERT days) by 2.07 days per year, while dangerously hot days (heat-ERT days) increased by 0.28 days per year. Interestingly, regions in Southern Europe, despite having warmer temperatures, experienced higher risks of mortality due to extreme heat and cold.
The study highlighted the need for region-specific strategies to protect vulnerable populations, as disparities in adaptation to temperature changes were influenced by socioeconomic factors. The researchers also looked at the combined effects of temperature and air pollution, noting that compound days with high pollution levels occurred on 60% of heat-ERT days and 65% of cold-ERT days.
The study emphasized the importance of developing specific strategies to address secondary pollutants like ozone, which can interact with extreme temperatures to amplify health risks. As global warming continues, the occurrence of compound days with high temperatures and pollution levels is becoming a growing concern for public health in Europe.
The research was part of the EARLY-ADAPT project, which aimed to study how populations are adapting to the health challenges posed by climate change. The findings underscore the need for continued efforts to improve heat adaptation measures and implement heat-health action plans in European countries to protect vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of extreme temperatures and air pollution.
