Climate change is already killing thousands in Europe through extreme heat waves

• Climate change

The consequences of climate change are no longer a future threat: they are a present reality that is claiming lives today. Europe is facing a silent emergency that intensifies every year: heat waves are becoming more frequent, more intense and more deadly. During the most recent summer, it is estimated that thousands of people died due to extreme temperatures, with the vast majority of these deaths directly attributable to global warming.

This alarming rise in fatalities is neither an isolated event nor a statistical anomaly. It is the direct result of a disrupted climate balance, in which human activity — through fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and uncontrolled urbanisation — has triggered an unprecedented cycle of extreme heat.

The European summer heat wave: a silent emergency

Between the last days of June and the first days of July, an unprecedented heat wave swept across much of Europe. Cities such as Madrid, Paris, Rome, Berlin and Amsterdam recorded historic temperatures, in many cases exceeding 42 °C for several consecutive days. Far from being exceptional events, these phenomena are becoming the new normal of the European summer.

What is most concerning is that behind each scorching day lies a tragic reality: the deaths of hundreds of people, mostly older adults, individuals with chronic illnesses or those living in vulnerable conditions. It is estimated that during this heat wave around 2,300 people died across the continent — more than three times what would have occurred without climate change.

Why climate change increases the deadliness of heat

Global warming increases both the frequency and intensity of heat waves. Greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere prevent the Earth from releasing heat, raising average global temperatures and altering previously stable weather patterns. As a result, what once was a three-day heat wave peaking at 36 °C can now become a full week of temperatures above 40 °C.

This type of extreme heat severely affects the human body. Severe dehydration, failure to regulate body temperature, organ collapse and worsening of pre-existing conditions are just some of the consequences. Older people, especially those living alone or in poorly insulated homes, face a dramatically higher risk of death from heat stroke.

The invisible victims of heat

One of the most disturbing aspects of heat-related deaths is that they often go unnoticed. Unlike floods or earthquakes, heat leaves no debris or striking headlines. Many people die at home without immediate medical assistance, or in hospitals where their deaths are not always directly attributed to heat.

This statistical invisibility prevents a clear understanding of the true scale of the problem. In addition, underreporting in regions without specific monitoring means the real number of victims could be even higher.

A matter of climate justice

Heat-related deaths also raise an ethical issue: climate justice. Not everyone is equally exposed or has the same resources to protect themselves. People living in poorly insulated housing, without access to cooling systems or green spaces, suffer the consequences of extreme heat far more severely.

Outdoor workers — such as farmers, construction workers or urban cleaning staff — are forced to endure inhumane conditions. The lack of legislation regulating working hours during extreme heat events further worsens their situation.

What lies ahead if we fail to act

Scientific projections are clear: without a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, heat waves will become longer, more frequent and more lethal. Some climate models warn that by the end of the century, Europe could experience more than 100 days per year with temperatures above 35 °C, turning large areas into practically uninhabitable regions during summer.

Heat-related mortality could surpass deaths caused by infectious diseases or traffic accidents. In densely populated cities, the combination of urban heat islands, energy poverty and an ageing population is a ticking time bomb.

Urgent solutions to a growing threat

Faced with this scenario, the response must be twofold: mitigation and adaptation.

Mitigation

This means addressing the root causes of the problem:

• Drastically reducing fossil fuel use.

• Accelerating the transition to renewable energy.

• Promoting energy efficiency in housing and transport.

• Shifting economic models towards sustainability.

Adaptation

This means preparing to live with unavoidable impacts:

• Installing free public cooling centres during heat waves.

• Encouraging large-scale urban tree planting.

• Reforming public health systems to respond effectively to heat crises.

• Protecting exposed workers through labour legislation addressing thermal risk.

• Improving thermal insulation in homes, especially in vulnerable areas.

The urgency of acting now

The climate crisis is not abstract or distant. It is happening now, in our cities, neighbourhoods and homes. Thousands of heat-related deaths are not inevitable: they are the result of political, economic and social choices that can still be changed.

Every additional degree of global temperature rise represents thousands of lives at risk. Solutions exist. Technology is available. What is missing is the political will to act with the speed and determination this crisis demands.