Scorching heat claims over 47,000 lives in Europe in 2023,report reveals
In a startling revelation, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) reported on Monday that more than 47,000 people died across Europe in 2023 due to extreme temperatures. This death toll underscores the severe impact of the continent’s ongoing heatwave, with southern European nations bearing the brunt.
Last year marked the hottest on record globally, and Europe remains the fastest-warming continent, facing increasingly dire health risks as climate change drives temperatures ever higher. Despite the alarming figures, the 2023 death toll is a notable decrease from the previous year’s estimate of over 60,000 heat-related fatalities.
According to ISGlobal’s report, the decline in heat-related deaths can be attributed to adaptive measures implemented over the past two decades. These include early warning systems and improvements in healthcare, which have collectively reduced the heat-related mortality burden by 80%. Elisa Gallo, a lead researcher at ISGlobal, highlighted that these adaptations have significantly mitigated the impact of high temperatures, particularly benefiting the elderly.
The study analyzed death and temperature data from 35 European countries, estimating that 47,690 deaths were linked to extreme heat. When adjusted for population size, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Spain experienced the highest mortality rates related to heat.
The report underscores the critical need for continued adaptation and mitigation strategies as Europe faces increasingly extreme weather conditions due to climate change.
