The World Health Organisation's (WHO) European branch reported on Thursday that extreme heat claims over 175,000 lives annually in Europe, where temperatures are increasing faster than the global average. The WHO revealed that of the approximately 489,000 heat-related fatalities recorded yearly between 2000 and 2019, 36 percent, or an average of 176,040 deaths, occur in the European region. The health agency highlighted that the region's temperatures are rising at roughly twice the global average rate. The WHO's European region includes 53 countries, several of which are in Central Asia.
Hans Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, stated in a release that "people are paying the ultimate price." The WHO reported a 30 percent rise in heat-related mortality in the region over the past two decades. Kluge explained that extreme temperatures worsen chronic conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebro-vascular diseases, mental health issues, and diabetes-related conditions. He also noted that extreme heat poses particular risks for the elderly and can be an additional strain for pregnant women. The WHO identified "heat stress," where the body can no longer regulate its temperature, as the primary cause of climate-related deaths in the region.
The WHO anticipates a significant increase in heat-related deaths in the coming years due to global warming. Kluge pointed out that the three warmest years on record for the region have all occurred since 2020, with the ten warmest years since 2007. On July 25, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that humanity is experiencing an "extreme heat epidemic" and urged action to mitigate the effects of heatwaves intensified by climate change.
