A groundbreaking scientific study released Wednesday 17 September reveals that the climate crisis caused at least 16,500 heat-related deaths in European cities this summer.
Across the cities, the climate crisis was behind 4,597 of the estimated heat deaths in Italy, 2,841 in Spain, 1,477 in Germany, 1,444 in France, 1,147 in the UK, 1,064 in Romania, 808 in Greece, 552 in Bulgaria, and 268 in Croatia
The crisis was most acute in capital cities. There were 835 additional deaths in Rome, 630 in Athens, 409 in Paris, and 387 in Madrid.
People aged 65 and over made up 85% of the excess deaths. It highlighted how hotter summers will become increasingly deadly for Europe’s ageing population.
Across the continent, scientists found the climate crisis was responsible for 68% of the 24,400 estimated heat deaths. Crucially, this was the result of it pushing temperatures up to 3.6°c higher.
Climate crisis causing surge in heat deaths across Europe
Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Bern, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and the University of Copenhagen conducted the research.
It underlines how preventable many of these deaths were. Crucially, it underscored how far governments are from delivering the urgent climate action needed to protect people.
This summer, extreme climate impacts battered Europe. Wildfires scorched over a million hectares across Spain and Portugal, devastating rural communities. Nordic countries endured unprecedented heatwaves, with temperatures climbing above 30°c even inside the Arctic Circle. Meanwhile, droughts disrupted harvests from Italy to the UK, pushing food prices higher and threatening livelihoods. Scientists warn these events are no longer rare anomalies but the new reality of a continent heating faster than the global average.
The report comes after EU countries failed to agree Friday on the bloc’s 2040 climate target. It is delaying a decision until an October summit of EU leaders and leaving the bloc’s planned Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement in limbo. NDCs are countries’ plans to deliver their emissions reductions vital to meeting the 1.5°c and 2°c under the Paris Agreement. Each party signatory to the agreement must update these every five years.
Laying bare the deadly reality of climate inaction
European Director at 350.org Kate Blagojevic said:
These shocking figures lay bare the deadly reality of the climate crisis in Europe. Ordinary people are paying with their lives, while billionaires, polluters, and the politicians shielding them continue with business as usual. This cannot go on. European leaders are stalling on setting a new, ambitious 2040 climate commitment — but delay costs lives. Governments need to act with urgency, starting with taxing the super-rich and fossil fuel companies to fund climate action, protect communities, and build a livable future.
Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute on climate change and the environment at Imperial College London, said:
Heatwaves are silent killers. The vast majority of heat deaths happen in homes and hospitals, where people with existing health conditions are pushed to their limit, but heat is rarely mentioned on death certificates.
Despite being the deadliest type of extreme weather, heat has long been underestimated as a public health risk. For example, even this summer in Europe, people are still working outdoors in temperatures above 40°C.
No one would expect someone to risk their life working in torrential rain or hurricane winds, but dangerous heat is still treated too casually.
Dr Pierrre Masselot, research fellow at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who also conducted the analysis, said:
This summer was another stark reminder of the necessity to take climate change seriously.
It is important to adapt our cities and societies as a whole to a warming world. But ultimately, adaptation will not compensate for extreme heating in Europe.
The best way to save thousands of lives from heat remains a drastic cut in greenhouse gas emission.
The findings add urgency to the upcoming Draw the Line global weekend of action (19–21 September). More than 90 demonstrations will take place across Europe. This includes flagship marches in London, Berlin, and Paris. The protests will unite communities in demanding an end to fossil fuels, a tax on extreme wealth, and investment in people, not polluters.
Feature image via Youtube/DW News
By The Canary
This post was originally published on Canary.