Heat waves could kill 90,000 Europeans per year by 2100: Report | World news
If nothing is done, heat waves could lead to the death of 90,000 Europeans each year by the end of the century, the European Environment Agency said.
“Without adaptation measures, and under the scenario of 3 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100, 90,000 Europeans could die from extreme heat every year,” he said.
“With 1.5 degrees C of global warming, this reduces to 30,000 deaths annually.”
Countries have pledged to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-occupation levels – a goal the world is set to miss on current emissions trends.
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Some 129,000 Europeans died from extreme heat in the period between 1980 and 2020, the agency said, citing insurance data.
But more frequent heat waves linked to climate change, an aging population and urbanization have made this figure likely to increase in the coming years, especially in the south of the continent, he said.
The World Health Organization on Monday said at least 15,000 people have died so far this year in Europe due to hot weather.
The three months from August to August were the hottest in Europe since records began, and the high temperatures led to the worst drought the continent has witnessed since the Middle Ages.
Beyond the risk of heat itself, the EEA said, climate change could also make Europe more susceptible to infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever spread by mosquito bites.
And the warming sea waters are a good breeding ground for bacteria that cause influenza, especially on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
The EEA calls for action.
“Almost all deaths associated with high temperatures are preventable in the European region,” he said.
“Reducing the health effects of heat requires the implementation of many solutions, including effective heat health action plans, urban greening, appropriate building design and construction, and adjusting work hours and conditions,” he said.
