Heat-related deaths increased in Europe, study says

Heat-related fatalities have surged across much of Europe, according to the Lancet Countdown Europe report released earlier this week. The data suggests an alarming average rise of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 people between the periods 2003-2012 and 2013-2022.

Heat Deaths Surge in Europe

The report delves into the intricate nexus between human health and the escalating climate crisis on the European continent, where temperatures are escalating at double the global average rate.

HEAL, a prominent European non-profit organization focused on health and the environment, lamented the findings, stating that European governments have fallen short in safeguarding their citizens from the health repercussions of climate change. They emphasized the critical need for swift action, advocating for adaptation strategies and bolstering urban planning and green spaces to mitigate thermal stress.

“This first update of the comprehensive assessment of climate change and health in Europe highlights that climate change is already negatively affecting the health of European populations and that, in the absence of appropriate climate measures, these impacts will continue to increase for the foreseeable future,” reads the conclusion of the Lancet report.

"European governments have failed to protect their citizens from the health impacts of climate change" (Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)

The document presents 42 indicators that examine the negative impacts of climate change on the health of Europeans. “Increased temperatures have increased heat-related mortality, reduced the supply of work and increased periods of risk for physical activity” both moderate and intense, the document reads.

Europeans are also more exposed to extreme weather phenomena – such as heat waves, episodes of hydrological drought and forest fires –, which have different negative consequences for human health. Fires, for example, increase exposure to particles suspended in the atmosphere and worsen respiratory problems. Droughts are already associated with food insecurity: in 2021 alone, climate change resulted in almost 12 million additional people affected by moderate or severe food insecurity in Europe, according to the report.

Climate change is not a distant theoretical scenario in the future: it is here and it kills

Europe faces new climate diseases

Climate-sensitive diseases – which, for this very reason, we do not normally consider as a European problem – are beginning to gain ground on the continent: this is the case of leishmaniasis, West Nile virus, dengue fever, malaria and Ixodes ricinus ticks (which is the vector of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis), the report exemplifies.

"Climate change is not a distant theoretical scenario in the future: it is here and it kills. The impacts of climate change are likely to worsen within and outside Europe, affecting the well-being of billions of people. Recognizing the impacts of climate change within and outside Europe and its role in creating the climate crisis, Europe must commit to a fair and healthy environmental transition, which includes taking global responsibility and supporting the communities most affected," the authors conclude.

The inaugural publication of the Lancet Countdown report specific to Europe occurred in 2021, with the primary objective of advocating for climate policies directly influencing human health. Subsequently, the following year, the report expanded its scope to assess 33 indicators across five domains intersecting health and science. These indicators encompass various diseases and topics such as leishmaniasis, tick-borne illnesses, food safety, and even the environmental impact of the hospital sector.

Accelerating climate action

The historical and ongoing contribution of European countries to global greenhouse gas emissions remains significantly high. While these emissions have fueled Europe's economic growth, they have disproportionately burdened other regions with the impacts of present and future environmental changes, highlighting issues of environmental and social justice.

In 2021, per capita emissions in Europe stood at approximately 5.4 tons of carbon dioxide, nearly three times higher than the average person in South or Central America and six times higher than that of someone in Africa. Despite this glaring disparity, Europe has struggled to rein in its emissions and is unlikely to achieve carbon neutrality before the end of the century.

Moreover, Europe's reliance on imported goods and services also contributes to environmental pressures, such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, in other regions, exacerbating health and climate-related challenges. Notably, the use of coal in Europe's energy mix increased in 2021, with over half of European countries continuing to subsidize fossil fuels.

The authors emphasize the urgent need for bold actions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, citing the potential benefits, including a reduction in premature deaths and morbidity. While there has been increased engagement from the scientific and corporate sectors on climate and health issues, individual, political, and media involvement remains insufficient.

In light of these challenges, the authors call on European nations to commit to a healthy and equitable environmental transition that acknowledges the region's responsibility for the current climate emergency and supports vulnerable communities.