Obviously, the authorities and people in general are aware that heat can kill during summer heatwaves, especially affecting the elderly or those that have health problems.

A team of scientists and epidemiologists from the Imperial College London focused on 854 European cities in a research and found that climate change was responsible for 68% of the 24,400 estimated heat deaths this summer through increasing temperatures by up to 3.6°C.

Death caused by extreme heat is known as a silent killer yet the majority of heat-related deaths go unreported, while official government figures can take months to appear, if they are released at all.

The study found that climate change 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.

In capital cities, climate change led to an additional 835 heat deaths in Rome, 630 in Athens, 409 in Paris, 387 in Madrid, 360 in Bucharest, 315 in London and 140 in Berlin.

People aged 65 and over made up 85% of the excess deaths, highlighting how hotter summers will become increasingly deadly for Europe’s aging population.

While policies are needed to protect people from heat, a rapid shift away from fossil fuels is the most effective way to avoid hotter and deadlier summers.

You can view the full report in PDF form, entitled: Summer heat deaths in European cities more than tripled due to climate change.

(News: Europe – Source: Imperial College London)

Keyword: Climate Change, Heat Stroke, Deaths, Imperial College London, Study

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