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In a study published on Monday, scientists say rising temperatures caused by human carbon dioxide emissions contributed to the deaths of around 50,000 people in Europe last year.
An estimated 47,690 people died from heatstroke in a year that was the hottest on earth and the second-hottest on record in Europe, according to a study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
More than 60,000 deaths from heatstroke have occurred in the past decade, with only 2022 seeing more deaths, according to the annual report.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, collected temperature and mortality records from 35 countries across the continent.
The authors stressed that older people are most at risk and that Southern European countries are the most affected by the heatwaves.
More than half of the deaths occurred during two extreme heatwaves in mid-July and August, when Greece battled deadly wildfires. On July 18, temperatures reached 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in Sicily.
The report warned that the headline figure was an estimate, adding that it was 95% confident that the death toll was between 28,853 and 66,525.
But it also found that if European governments had not taken steps to help people adapt to the summer heat in the 21st century, the number of deaths from heatstroke would have increased by 80 percent.
“Our findings highlight the importance of historical and ongoing adaptation in saving lives during recent summers,” the authors said.
The report also indicates “the urgency of more effective strategies to further reduce the mortality burden from upcoming hotter summers” and urges more aggressive measures to combat global warming.
Europe, where temperatures are rising faster than the rest of the world, has seen an increase in deadly heat waves this century, according to the United Nations.
Scientists say climate change is making extreme weather events such as heat waves more frequent, longer lasting and more intense.
Further information: Elisa Gallo, “Heat stroke mortality in Europe in 2023 and the role of adaptation in health protection,” Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03186-1. www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03186-1
© 2024 AFP
Source: Nearly 50,000 deaths from heatstroke in Europe in 2023: Study (August 12, 2024) Retrieved August 12, 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-08-europe.html
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