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Adaptation measures in Europe prevented 80% of heat-related deaths in 2023

Heat-related mortality in Europe would have been 80% higher last year without recent adaptation measures to rising temperatures, such as changes in infrastructure and public behaviour, according to a study led by ISGlobal. The study, published in Nature Medicine, estimates that more than 47,000 deaths were related to the heat in 35 European countries in 2023 - the second highest number in the 2015-2023 period, behind 2022. Heat-related mortality was highest in southern European countries including Spain (175 deaths per million people), Italy (209) and Greece (393). 

12/08/2024 - 17:00 CEST
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240812 adaptación calor - dominic royé EN

Science Media Centre Spain

The results are in line with published studies. The authors rightly question to what extent there has been sufficient adaptation since the great heatwave of 2003, considering the large number of deaths estimated in Europe in 2022. And we can see that, without the adaptation of the last years and decade, mortality would clearly have been much higher. I agree that there is still a need for a thorough monitoring of the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and the implementation of more effective prevention plans. We monitor temperature very well, but not health impacts in the same way. Social adaptation to rising temperatures has played a crucial role in preventing mortality in Europe, but it is still insufficient. Especially when we consider that 1 in 5 heat-related deaths can be attributed to an ageing population in the coming decades.

The author has not responded to our request to declare conflicts of interest
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Heat-related mortality in Europe during 2023 and the role of adaptation in protecting health
  • Research article
  • Peer reviewed
  • People
  • Modelling
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Nature Medicine
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Elisa Gallo et al.

Study types:
  • Research article
  • Peer reviewed
  • People
  • Modelling
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