Europe is currently facing unprecedented heat waves that are beyond what humans can comfortably handle due to climate change, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate monitoring service and the World Meteorological Organization. In 2023, extreme heat posed a risk to outdoor workers, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Greenhouse gas emissions were identified as the main cause of last year’s exceptional heat, with the El Nino weather pattern also playing a role.
A recent report highlighted last year’s extreme conditions, including a heatwave in July that affected 41% of southern Europe – the largest area ever recorded to experience extreme heat stress in a single day. Carlo Buontempo, Director of the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, noted that these events took the scientific community by surprise due to their intensity, speed of onset, extent, and duration. Heat-related deaths in Europe have increased by about 30% in the last two decades.
In response to these findings, the EU’s environment agency has called on governments to prepare healthcare systems for the impacts of climate change and to implement regulations to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat. This highlights the urgent need for action to address the escalating challenges posed by rising temperatures in Europe.
