BTN News: In 2023, Europe witnessed a significant surge in temperatures, marking it as the hottest year ever recorded globally and the second hottest in Europe. This unprecedented heatwave has led to a staggering number of deaths, with a recent study by the Institute for Global Health in Barcelona (ISGlobal), supported by the Fundación La Caixa, estimating over 47,000 heat-related fatalities across the continent. The research, published in ‘Nature Medicine,’ analyzed temperature and mortality data from 823 regions spanning 35 European countries. The findings are alarming, highlighting the grave impact of the extreme heat, particularly in Southern Europe, where countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Portugal reported the highest mortality rates.
During the peak heatwave period between May 29 and October 1, 2023, the study recorded 47,312 deaths directly linked to the soaring temperatures. These figures underscore the deadly consequences of climate change, which has led to more frequent and intense heatwaves across Europe. The southern European nations bore the brunt of this extreme weather, with Greece suffering 393 deaths per million inhabitants, followed by Bulgaria with 229, Italy with 209, Spain with 175, Cyprus with 167, and Portugal with 136. These statistics reflect the dire situation in these regions, where the combination of high temperatures and vulnerable populations has resulted in significant loss of life.
The 2023 findings follow a previous study by ISGlobal conducted in 2022, which estimated over 60,000 heat-related deaths during that year’s summer. This comparison not only highlights the ongoing threat of extreme heat but also emphasizes the importance of evaluating whether there has been a reduction in vulnerability to such conditions across Europe. The 2023 study aimed to assess if European societies have adapted to rising temperatures, a process that could potentially mitigate the impact of future heatwaves.
Interestingly, the researchers found evidence of adaptation to the heat over the past two decades. If the temperatures experienced in 2023 had occurred between 2000 and 2004, the estimated mortality due to heat would have exceeded 85,000 deaths, suggesting an 80% higher vulnerability compared to the period from 2015 to 2019. This significant reduction in vulnerability is attributed to various factors, including socioeconomic progress, individual behavioral changes, and public health measures implemented since the record-breaking summer of 2003.
Elisa Gallo, a researcher at ISGlobal, highlighted that these data demonstrate how societal adaptation to high temperatures has markedly reduced the vulnerability and mortality burden during recent summers. However, the study also draws attention to the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and the elderly, who remain at the greatest risk during extreme heat events. In 2023, the mortality rate linked to heat was 55% higher in women than in men, and a staggering 768% higher in those over 80 compared to individuals aged 65 to 79.
The decrease in vulnerability can be largely attributed to general socioeconomic improvements, enhanced individual behaviors, and effective public health interventions such as heat prevention plans that were introduced after the record-breaking summer of 2003. These efforts have played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of extreme heat on public health.
In conclusion, while Europe has made significant strides in adapting to rising temperatures, the ongoing threat of extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change, continues to pose a serious risk to public health. The findings from the ISGlobal study serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued adaptation efforts, particularly for the most vulnerable populations, to prevent further loss of life in the face of increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.
