High temperatures kill more than 175,000 people each year in Europe, new data shows

Across Europe, more than 50 countries “are paying the highest price,” he said. WHO Regional director Dr Hans Kluge, just days after Earth recorded its warmest average temperature ever, at 17.16 degrees Celsius (62.89 degrees Fahrenheit), and as a summer heatwave stretches across the northern hemisphere.

Dr Kluge said the three warmest years on record in Europe had all occurred since 2020 and the 10 warmest years had all been charted since 2007.

Temperature: the top killer

“In the European region, Heat stress is the leading cause of climate-related death in the region,” “Extreme temperatures like the current one actually exacerbate chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases, mental health and diabetes-related diseases. The extreme temperatures we are experiencing are a particular problem for older people, especially those who live alone; it can also put an additional burden on pregnant women,” he said.

Call protection measures

WHO stresses that governments need to do more to reduce heat stress among vulnerable people.

More than 20 countries in the WHO European region have such plans, but they are “not enough to protect all communities”, the UN health agency warned.

That message resonates. Call to action on extreme heat by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterreswho stressed that the Earth “is getting hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.”

The WHO notes that in some parts of the world, the climate crisis has pushed temperatures to unbearable levels. Globally, an estimated 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred each year between 2000 and 2019, with the European Region accounting for 36%, or an average of more than 175,000 deaths per year.

Hot land

Mr Guterres’ comments came during a week that saw the three warmest days on record on Earth in recent history, according to one of the UN’s World Meteorological Organization’s datasets (World Meteorological Organization) used to monitor climate.

On 22 July 2024, the global daily average temperature reached a new record high of 17.16°C, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. On 23 July, the preliminary value was 17.15°C. On 21 July, the record temperature was 17.09°C. All three days were warmer than the previous record of 17.08°C, set just last year on 6 July 2023..

As part of the UN health agency’s #KeepCool campaign, which provides simple guidance to keep people safe, Dr Kluge stressed that the negative health impacts of hot and extremely hot weather are largely preventable. “If we are better prepared for a hotter region, we will save lives, both now and in the future,” he stressed.

WHO guidance on how to cope with heat includes:

• Avoid extreme heat: Avoid going out and doing strenuous activities when the sun is at its hottest. Stay in the shade and do not leave children or animals in parked cars. If necessary and possible, spend two to three hours in a cool place, such as a supermarket or movie theater.

• Try to keep your home cool: use the night air to cool your home. Reduce the heat load inside your home or hotel room during the day by using blinds or shutters, opening them at night to ventilate your home.

• Keep cool and hydrated: wear light, loose-fitting clothing, lightweight bedding, take cool showers and drink water regularly while avoiding sugary, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks as they will dehydrate you.

• Take care of yourself and others: look out for family, friends and neighbours, especially the elderly, especially when they are alone.

Understand the risks

United Nations guide to what constitutes A heat wave is “a period of unusually hot and dry or hot and humid weather that has a distinct beginning and end, lasts at least two to three days, and has a noticeable impact on human activities”.

Heat waves are different from warm spells, although they share many similarities. Warm spells are defined as a sustained period of unusually warm weather in a location. Warm spells can also be defined by the 90th or 95th percentile of daily maximum temperatures (Tmax). Warm spells can occur at any time of the year, while heat waves can only occur during the warm season, according to the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO).