How Climate Change Contributed to the Devastating Heatwave That Claimed 2,300 Lives in Europe

This summer, cities across Europe faced an unusual heatwave. In Milan, temperatures hit 30.3°C, pushing elderly residents to hospitals and straining emergency services. Madrid was slightly cooler but had a higher death toll. Even in typically rainy London, ambulances were busy outside overheated homes.

Sadly, this extreme weather is becoming all too common because of climate change. A recent study from Imperial College London revealed that human activity tripled the number of heat-related deaths during the late June heatwave. Over 2,300 people died, with 1,500 of those deaths linked directly to climate change driven by fossil fuels.

Heatwaves are natural, but they’re increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change. Scientists used a method called “event attribution” to compare today’s climate to a world without the 1.3°C increase from greenhouse gas emissions. The differences illustrate just how much more severe heatwaves are now.

In Madrid, researchers found that over 90% of heat deaths were tied to climate change. Milan had 317 deaths related to warming, while Paris reported 235 and London 171. Many victims were seniors, but some were younger and didn’t get proper recognition for heat-related deaths. This is why experts often refer to heat as a “silent killer.” It can take lives without making headlines like floods or storms do.

Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, a research fellow at the Grantham Institute, emphasized that heatwaves can go unnoticed. “Heatwaves are deadly but rarely attributed as the cause of death,” he said. This makes their real impact harder to understand.

But how do heatwaves lead to fatalities? Our bodies cool off by sweating, but when it’s both hot and humid, sweat doesn’t evaporate easily. This can cause heatstroke or heart failure, especially for vulnerable individuals or outdoor workers. Akshay Deoras from the University of Reading noted, “Heatwaves can overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate temperature, leading to dehydration and potentially fatal heatstroke.”

This recent heatwave caught many off guard. It’s happening earlier in the summer and lasting longer than expected. Cities, with their heat-absorbing concrete and asphalt, become much hotter than rural areas. Known as the urban heat island effect, this phenomenon contributes to what some call “tropical nights,” where nighttime temperatures remain high, putting even more stress on the body.

Countries took steps to mitigate the problem. Italy limited outdoor labor while France temporarily closed over a thousand schools. Despite these efforts, the toll was still heavy.

But this isn’t just a European issue. Extreme heat is a growing global threat, impacting South Asia, the Middle East, and North America too. Recent data indicates that heatwaves like this are happening far more frequently than before. In a natural scenario, such a heatwave would occur once or twice a century. Now, they’re happening every 2 to 5 years.

Looking ahead, if emissions continue as they are, researchers predict that over 160 million Europeans could face extreme heat every year by mid-century. Some cities are trying to adapt by planting trees and creating green spaces to combat the urban heat island effect. However, these efforts are often insufficient and poorly funded.

Dr. Raquel Nunes, an Associate Professor in Health and Environment, warns that heatwaves are public health emergencies. “They disproportionately affect vulnerable groups and require strong preparedness,” she stressed, calling for early warning systems and resilient healthcare services.

The study emphasizes the need for better preparedness. Action is crucial, but the heat is escalating faster than we can keep up. Renaming heatwaves could make their impact feel more real. Maybe we could call this one “The Heatwave That Shouldn’t Have Happened.”

For more information, read the full study here.

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