Europe is experiencing more rapid warming than any other continent, and this increase in temperature has deadly consequences
Europe is currently experiencing a rate of heating that is twice as rapid as the rest of the Earth. According to a recent report by European climate experts, this increase in temperature is leading to a significant number of fatalities during the summer months.
Over the past 20 years, the analysis conducted by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the United Nations estimates that the number of heat-related deaths on the continent has risen by at least 30%.
“The impact on human health is particularly noticeable in urban areas, where the majority of the population resides,” says José Álvaro Silva of the U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization. Cities are not only densely populated, but they are also warming at a faster rate than rural regions due to the longer retention of heat by buildings and roads.
The summer of 2023 serves as a striking example of the dangers of extreme heat for Europeans. During a July heatwave, Southern Europe experienced temperatures that felt like 110 degrees or higher.
Such weather conditions can be fatal for individuals without access to air conditioning. Although the final death toll from the heatwave is still being calculated, researchers believe it is likely to be in the tens of thousands. One study estimated that over 60,000 people died prematurely as a result of the July 2023 heatwave.
“Extreme heat has the highest mortality rate among all types of extreme weather,” says Chris Hewitt, the head of the World Meteorological Organization.
Europe’s rapid warming is driven by three main factors. Firstly, the continent’s proximity to the Arctic, which is experiencing the fastest warming on Earth. Secondly, Europe’s natural location near warm ocean and atmospheric currents, which explains why London experiences milder winters compared to cities at similar latitudes like Chicago, despite being farther north.
However, this also means that Europe is warming dangerously fast compared to other regions at similar latitudes, explains Samantha Burgess, the deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
“We are constantly witnessing the breaking of new temperature records,” Burgess adds.
The threat posed by heatwaves has prompted many European cities to take action to ensure residents have access to air conditioning and reliable electricity to power it during extreme heat. In the past, some of the deadliest heatwaves worldwide have resulted in blackouts when the power grid failed due to extremely hot weather.
The new report brings some positive news on this front: Europe is increasingly transitioning to solar and wind energy sources for electricity, and these sources are becoming more reliable. In fact, 2023 marked the second consecutive year that the continent generated more electricity from renewables than from burning fossil fuels.
This shift away from oil, gas, and coal for electricity generation is helping Europe reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming. This, in turn, will help mitigate the risks of future deadly heatwaves.