Over 20,000 people died in summer heatwaves across Europe

More than 20,000 people died in this summer's heatwaves across western Europe, in temperatures that would have been virtually impossible without the breakdown of climate, according to figures.

The data showing excess deaths, the number of deaths that happened and the number expected based on historical trends, shows the threats posed by climate change-induced global warming, scientists said.

During the summer heatwaves temperatures exceeded 40 C 104 F in London, areas in south-west France reached 42 C and Seville and C rdoba in Spain set records of 44 C. Analyzed data from the World Weather Attribution group of scientists found that such high temperatures would have been virtually impossible without the climate crisis.

Between 1 June and 7 September, there were 3,271 deaths in England and Wales, which were 6.2% higher than the five-year average, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The number of deaths for heat-related deaths was higher on average for heat-period days than non-heat-period days, according to the analysis. Covid 19 deaths were excluded.

In France, there were 10,420 excess deaths reported during the summer months, according to data released by Sant Publique France, the government health agency.

One in four of these deaths, or 2,816, occurred during one of the three intense heatwaves that hit the country. The excess deaths were 20% higher in regions where extreme temperature red alerts had been issued.

The Robert Koch Institute, the German government health agency, estimates that 4,500 people died in the country during the summer months due to extreme temperatures.

Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, said Heatwaves are one of the biggest threats posed by climate change. Thousands of deaths are caused by high temperatures all over the world every year, many of which are not reported.

There is still little public awareness of the dangers that extreme temperatures can cause to human health, despite this overwhelming evidence. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the EU, the summer of 2022 was the hottest on record.

As the globe warms, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, so we can expect more and hotter heatwaves in the future, according to Dr Eunice Lo, a research fellow in climate change and health at the University of Bristol.

Many past heatwaves have been linked to human-induced climate change. This means that observed heatwaves have been made more likely to occur or more intense because of human emissions of greenhouse gases. The burning of fossil fuels, forest destruction and other human activities is responsible for global warming. The International Energy Agency advised last year that no new gas, oil or coal development could take place from this year onwards if the world were to limit global heating to 1.5 C.

There was also a need for society to adapt to extreme heat, according to Lo. We need to adapt to the heat in the long term. This includes designing homes, schools, and hospitals that have good ventilation and prevent overheating, increasing green space and parks in cities, and making heat warnings accessible to all.