Climate change is threatening the health of millions of people, as higher temperatures and more intense heatwaves could lead to a rise in temperature-related deaths. According to a study recently published in "Nature Medicine", heat-related deaths in European cities could increase by up to 50 per cent by the end of the century, amounting to more than 2.3 million additional deaths. People in southern Europe are particularly affected. The study's lead author Pierre Masselot emphasises the need to tackle climate change and adapt to increasing heat, especially in the Mediterranean region.

The impacts of climate change show significant geographical variation, with people in countries such as Malta, Italy, and Bulgaria facing greater risk than populations in northern countries like Ireland and Lithuania. Studies indicate that in southern Europe heat-related mortality predominates, whilst in the north cold-related mortality is dominant. Mitigation and adaptation measures could help counter this.

Predicting mortality rates due to heat and cold in the context of climate change is uncertain, as climate change could have further health impacts that are not yet fully understood. The study examined only heat- and cold-related mortality, but not illnesses and injuries that are non-fatal. For instance, experts point to the increase in accidents caused by icy roads and illnesses resulting from heatwaves.

Despite the goal of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, this threshold was exceeded in 2024…