A comprehensive study published in Nature Medicine has revealed that extreme heat caused 47,690 deaths in Europe in 2023, marking the second-highest heat-related mortality rate since record-keeping began in 2015. The research, conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), analyzed data from 823 regions across 35 European countries.Southern European nations bore the brunt of the heat-related fatalities, with Greece recording the highest mortality rate at 393 deaths per million inhabitants, followed by Bulgaria (229 deaths per million), Italy (209 deaths per million), and Spain (175 deaths per million). Italy reported the highest absolute number of deaths at 12,743, followed by Spain with 8,352 and Germany with 6,376.The study also highlighted the disproportionate impact of heat on vulnerable populations. Women experienced a 55% higher mortality rate than men, while individuals over 80 years old were 768% more likely to die from heat-related causes compared to those aged 65-79.Despite these sobering statistics, the research underscored the effectiveness of adaptation strategies in mitigating heat-related deaths. Lead author Elisa Gallo noted, ‘Our results show that there have been societal adaptation processes to high temperatures in this century, which have drastically reduced heat-vulnerability and mortality in the last summers, especially among older people’. The researchers estimate that without these adaptation measures, the death toll could have been 80% higher, potentially doubling among those over 80 years old.The study also revealed a gradual increase in the minimum mortality temperature – the optimal temperature with the lowest mortality risk – from 15°C in 2000-2004 to 17.7°C in 2015-2019, indicating improved heat tolerance over time.As Europe grapples with the findings of this study, parts of the continent are currently experiencing another heatwave. In France, 40 departments have been placed on orange alert, with temperatures expected to peak at 38.8°C in some areas. The French public health agency estimates that 5,000 people died from heat in France in the summer of 2023.The study and current heatwave serve as stark reminders of the urgent need to address climate change as a public health issue. With Europe warming at twice the global average rate, according to the World Health Organization, the need for continued adaptation and mitigation strategies has never been more critical. As Joan Ballester Claramunt, Principal Investigator of the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant EARLY-ADAPT, warns, ‘There is an urgent need to implement strategies aimed at further reducing the mortality burden of the coming warmer summers, together with more comprehensive monitoring of the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations’.
Key points
- Extreme heat caused 47,690 deaths in Europe in 2023, the second-highest rate since 2015.
- Southern European countries were most affected, with Greece having the highest mortality rate.
- Adaptation measures have significantly reduced heat-related deaths, potentially preventing an 80% higher death toll.
- Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, emphasizing the urgency of addressing climate change.
Contradictions👾While most sources report 47,690 heat-related deaths in Europe for 2023, some articles rounded this to 47,000 or even 50,000, which could lead to slight discrepancies in reporting.
