A heatwave in Europe from 23 June to 2 July resulted in an estimated 2,300 deaths across 12 cities, with 1,500 attributed to climate breakdown. Milan, Paris, and Barcelona were the most affected cities. Eighty-eight percent of climate-driven deaths occurred in individuals over 65 years old. Despite the severe impact, heatwaves remain underreported and are often unnoticed as many deaths occur in private settings. The study reveals that climate change makes extreme heat events more lethal and highlights the need for improved recognition of heatwaves as public health threats.
The rapid analysis from the World Weather Attribution group estimates that high heat killed 2,300 people across 12 major cities in Europe from 23 June to 2 July.
Experts estimate that climate breakdown was responsible for 1,500 of these deaths, illustrating how climate change has intensified heatwave impacts significantly.
The research indicates that older individuals were most affected, with 88% of the climate-driven deaths occurring in people over 65 years of age.
Heatwaves pose an underappreciated threat to public health, as many heat-related fatalities occur privately, without significant media coverage or public attention.
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