Extreme Heat Claims more than 175 000 Lives Annually in Europe

Statement by the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge

The European Region is the fastest-warming of the six WHO regions, with temperatures rising at around twice the global average rate. Across the Region, in its 53 Member States, people are paying the ultimate price. The three warmest years on record for the WHO European Region have all occurred since 2020, and the 10 warmest years have been since 2007.

A few days ago, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a Call to action on extreme heat in response to the deadly impacts of rising temperatures all over the world. In some places around the world, the climate crisis is already driving temperatures up to unbearable levels and estimates show that globally, approximately 489 000 heat-related deaths occurred each year between 2000 and 2019, with the European Region accounting for 36%, or on average 176 040 deaths every year between 2000 and 2019

The Secretary-General's Call identifies four critical areas of action on caring for the vulnerable, protecting workers, boosting resilience of economies and societies, and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. This could not be more relevant for the European Region, where over the past 20 years, there has been a 30% increase in heat-related mortality, with heat-related deaths increasing in almost all of the countries of the Region where monitoring is in place.

Heat stress is the leading cause of climate-related death in the Region. Temperature extremes exacerbate chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebro-vascular diseases, mental health, and diabetes-related conditions. Extreme heat is a problem for elderly people in particular, especially those living...