Europe is warming twice as fast as other continents. The number of deaths due to heat increased by 30% – VTM.cz

According to the latest report, compiled by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the European continent is warming approximately twice as fast as the global average. Among other things, the rapid increase in temperatures contributes to a significant increase in deaths due to extreme heat. According to estimates, the number of deaths in Europe due to heat waves has increased by at least 30% over the past 20 years.

For their latest study, Copernicus and the WMO used the Universal Thermal Climate Index, which measures the effect of the environment on the human organism. This index takes into account not only high temperatures, but also humidity, wind speed, sunlight and ambient heat.

City dwellers are most at risk

Showed that urban dwellers are most at risk, where the population is concentrated and where the temperature rises faster than in rural areas. The increased risk was fully exposed during last summer, when temperatures in southern Europe exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.

Experts draw attention to the connection between climate change and threats to human health. An earlier study estimated that a heat wave last July could have killed up to 60,000 people prematurely. Extreme heat poses a particular risk to people who work outdoors, the elderly and people with medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

July heat waves affected 41% of southern Europe and severe, very severe, or extreme heat stress in these areas was greatest over the entire monitoring period. In addition, Europe also faced catastrophic floods, droughts, violent storms and the largest forest fires.

Up to ten days of extreme heat

“Across Europe we are seeing an increasing trend in the number of heat stress days and 2023 was no exception. Europe has seen a record number of extreme heat stress days,” warned climatologist Rebecca Emerton from the Copernicus service.

In some parts of Spain, France, Italy and Greece it occurred during last year up to ten days of extreme heat, which is defined as a feeling of temperature above 46°C where immediate action is needed to prevent conditions such as heatstroke. For example, some parts of Italy saw 7% more deaths than usual last July.

Europe’s rapid warming is due to its proximity to the Arctic, currently the fastest warming region in the world, and warm ocean and atmospheric currents. Because of this, Europe is warming significantly faster than other places at similar latitudes.

At least one small positive

Copernicus Climate Change Service Deputy Director Samantha Burgess repeatedly warns of the dangers of this rapid climate change. “We are breaking new records practically all the time.“ she pointed out with regard to the unfavorable development observed in the last few years.

Because of the dangers posed by the heat, many European cities are scrambling to ensure residents have access to air conditioning – and reliable electricity to power it on the hottest days. Some of the deadliest heat waves around the world have been linked to power outages, when the power grid fails during extremely hot weather.

In this regard, the new report also brings positive news: Europe is increasingly using solar and wind energy, and these energy sources are becoming more reliable. 2023 was the second year in a row that more electricity was generated on the continent from renewable sources than from burning fossil fuels.