Thousands of people are dying of hot weather every year and the numbers are only set to increase as heat waves intensify. The latest research highlighted that about 50,000 people in Europe died from hot weather in 2023 alone. Europe is one of the continents that are warming at a much faster rate in the world.
Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said the climate continues to warm. She highlighted that the devastating effects of climate change started before 2023. Burgess said this will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net zero. The executive shared that the global temperatures, from January to July 2024, were 0.70C above the 1991-2020 average.
Doctors describe heat as a ‘silent killer’ as it claims more lives than what is let on. A study stated that the mortality rate in 2023 would have been 80 percent higher if people had failed to adapt to rising temperatures over the decades.
Elisa Gallo, lead author of the study and an environmental epidemiologist, said people have effectively adapted to changing weather but the number of heat-related deaths is still high. She warned that Europe is warming at twice the rate of the global average. Southern Europe can potentially face more scorching temperatures.
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Hot Weather, Heatwaves Are Common
Experts say heatwaves have grown hotter, longer, and more common because of the continuous use of fossil fuels and the felling of trees. As such, the atmosphere has become clogged with gasses that heat the planet .
Governments have to step in to protect their populations from heatwaves. There is a need for cool cities, more parks and less concrete jungles. Early warning systems should be installed to warn people of the dangers. Moreover, healthcare systems should be properly equipped to tackle the surge in patients affected by heatwaves.
Furthermore, people should be informed and educated to care for themselves during heatwave-like situations. They should be urged to stay indoors and drink water, and eating the right kind of food.
