Heatwave-induced European summer claims 16,500 lives due to climate change, ascertained by scientists
In a groundbreaking study published this week, climate scientist Friederike Otto from Imperial College London has confirmed the undeniable causal chain between fossil fuel burning, rising temperatures, and increased mortality rates in Europe.
The rapid analysis, which covered 854 big cities, found that if fossil fuel burning had not continued over the last decades, most of the estimated 24,400 heat-related deaths in Europe wouldn't have occurred. The study attributed 16,500 of these deaths to the extra-hot weather brought on by greenhouse gases.
The research concluded that warming has tended to be stronger further inland in continental Europe. Interestingly, the lowest estimated rates of warming were recorded in Ireland. However, older people were disproportionately affected by the punishing temperatures, with 85% of the dead being over the age of 65, and 41% over 85.
The highest number of excess deaths was observed during the late-June to early-July heatwave. Dublin, included in the analysis, experienced 10 'excess deaths,' with eight of these directly linked to climate change.
The second worst period was during the second week of August when temperatures rose to more than 40 degrees in countries around the Mediterranean. Cities like Rome, Athens, and Bucharest had the highest standardised excess mortality per one-million population.
While specific data on which cities in continental Europe had the highest standardized excess mortality per million inhabitants in the summer of this year is yet to be determined, the study serves as a stark reminder of the impact of human-made global heating on public health.
In Dublin, the study found that climate breakdown made cities an average of 2.2 degrees hotter. This rise in temperature has severe implications for the city's residents, particularly the elderly, who are more vulnerable to extreme heat conditions.
As we continue to grapple with the realities of climate change, it is crucial to acknowledge the undeniable link between fossil fuel burning, rising temperatures, and increased mortality rates. This study underscores the urgent need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change on human health.
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