Extreme heat claims over 175,000 lives a year in Europe, says WHO
Extreme heat kills more than 175,000 people every year in Europe, the fastest-warming region of the world, the World Health Organization's (WHO) European branch said on Thursday.
The European Region accounts for 36% of the approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths recorded by WHO each year between 2000 and 2019. The region is warming at about twice the global average rate, the organisation said.
"Across the Region, in its 53 Member States, people are paying the ultimate price," Hans Kluge, WHO's regional director for Europe, said in a statement. Over the past 20 years, heat-related mortality in Europe has increased by 30 per cent.
Heat stress
"Temperature extremes exacerbate chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebro-vascular diseases, mental health and diabetes-related conditions," Kluge said.
They are also at the root of "heat stress", which occurs when the body is unable to maintain a temperature between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius, and is now the leading cause of climate-related mortality in the region.
Invisible killer
The number of heat-related deaths is set to "soar" in the coming years as a result of global warming, which is responsible for an increase in heat waves in Europe, said the WHO.
"The 3 warmest years on record for the Region have all occurred since 2020, and the 10 warmest years have been since 2007," said Kluge.
On 25 July, UN chief Antonio Guterres called for a response to the "extreme heat epidemic" and concrete measures to combat this "invisible killer".
Temperatures reach 43 degrees in Rome during a heatwave at the end of July © PHOTO IMAGO