According to new research, as many as 61,000 people may have perished in Europe's oppressive heatwaves last summer, revealing that nations' efforts to prepare for the heat are catastrophically failing.
In 35 European countries, from late May to early September 2022—during Europe's hottest summer on record—more than 61,600 individuals are predicted to have perished from heat-related causes, according to a study by academics from European health institutes.
According to population size, the Mediterranean nations of Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain had the highest death rates, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Medicine.
"The Mediterranean is affected by desertification, heatwaves are amplified during summer just because of these drier conditions," said study co-author Joan Ballester, a professor at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
Portugal achieved a peak temperature of 47C in July during a month that saw several European nations affected by severe wildfires and drought, just missing the nation's record-high temperature of 47.3C set in 2003.
The countries that suffered from heat-related deaths the most in absolute terms were Italy, Spain, and Germany (18,010, 11,324, and 8,173 deaths, respectively).
Heatwaves are growing more common and severe as a result of human-caused climate change. Older adults are particularly at risk since extreme heat can result in heat stroke or exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, both of which can be fatal.
The researchers utilised epidemiological models to examine how many of the excess fatalities that were reported in European countries last summer—a rate of excess mortality that was extremely high—could be directly attributed to heat.
Following catastrophic heatwaves in Europe in 2003, several nations, notably France, created national plans to deal with high temperatures. The plans included early warning systems and more cooling green spaces in urban areas.
However, experts say the high mortality toll from last year implies these tactics are ineffective and need to be rapidly enhanced.
"It's an indication to those countries that they need to review their plans and see what is not working," said Chloe Brimicombe, a climate scientist at Austria's University of Graz.
The health ministry of Germany initiated a campaign last month to assist local governments in developing heat action plans, such as by increasing protection for the homeless or taking steps like providing more drinking water in public areas.
"The number of deaths is increasing every year... It's relatively easy to save them if we have a plan," German health minister Karl Lauterbach said.
(Source:www.nbcnews.com)
In 35 European countries, from late May to early September 2022—during Europe's hottest summer on record—more than 61,600 individuals are predicted to have perished from heat-related causes, according to a study by academics from European health institutes.
According to population size, the Mediterranean nations of Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain had the highest death rates, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Medicine.
"The Mediterranean is affected by desertification, heatwaves are amplified during summer just because of these drier conditions," said study co-author Joan Ballester, a professor at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
Portugal achieved a peak temperature of 47C in July during a month that saw several European nations affected by severe wildfires and drought, just missing the nation's record-high temperature of 47.3C set in 2003.
The countries that suffered from heat-related deaths the most in absolute terms were Italy, Spain, and Germany (18,010, 11,324, and 8,173 deaths, respectively).
Heatwaves are growing more common and severe as a result of human-caused climate change. Older adults are particularly at risk since extreme heat can result in heat stroke or exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, both of which can be fatal.
The researchers utilised epidemiological models to examine how many of the excess fatalities that were reported in European countries last summer—a rate of excess mortality that was extremely high—could be directly attributed to heat.
Following catastrophic heatwaves in Europe in 2003, several nations, notably France, created national plans to deal with high temperatures. The plans included early warning systems and more cooling green spaces in urban areas.
However, experts say the high mortality toll from last year implies these tactics are ineffective and need to be rapidly enhanced.
"It's an indication to those countries that they need to review their plans and see what is not working," said Chloe Brimicombe, a climate scientist at Austria's University of Graz.
The health ministry of Germany initiated a campaign last month to assist local governments in developing heat action plans, such as by increasing protection for the homeless or taking steps like providing more drinking water in public areas.
"The number of deaths is increasing every year... It's relatively easy to save them if we have a plan," German health minister Karl Lauterbach said.
(Source:www.nbcnews.com)
