Searing hot summer leads to record number of heat deaths in European cities

Last summer, extreme heat in European cities led to an estimated 50,000 additional deaths, significantly higher than previous years. Researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine linked many of these deaths to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The study analyzed data from over 850 urban areas across 30 countries, revealing that the summer was 2.9 degrees Celsius warmer than the average from 1991-2020. Notably, younger individuals also suffered, with over 800 deaths in the 20-44 age group. The findings highlight the urgent need for cities to adapt to rising temperatures, as heat-related deaths are often underreported.