At least 1,147 people in the UK died from climate change-driven heatwaves this summer, according to leading scientists and epidemiologists. The UK experienced its hottest summer on record, with experts saying extreme heat incidents were made more likely and intense by human-induced global warming.
A study led by researchers at Imperial College London found climate change increased temperatures by an average of 2.2C, but by as much as 3.6C between June and August. The research used modelling, historical mortality records and peer-reviewed methods to provide early estimates of fatalities.
European death toll
The heat was responsible for 68% of the 24,400 total heat deaths in 854 European cities over the three months, according to the analysis. This amounts to an additional 16,500 lives lost compared with what may have been seen during a summer not heated by human activities.
Major European cities saw significant death tolls, including 835 deaths in Rome, 630 in Athens, 409 in Paris, and 387 in Madrid. Heat deaths reported across the continent included a 51-year-old street cleaner in Barcelona and a 47-year-old construction worker in San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy.
UK city breakdown
London recorded 315 deaths, making it the worst-affected UK city, followed by Birmingham with 52 deaths. Glasgow and Sheffield each saw 24 deaths, while Edinburgh recorded 22 and Belfast, Leeds, Wolverhampton and Dundee each had 14 deaths.
Other cities included Doncaster with at least 12 deaths, Leicester with 11, Cardiff with nine, and Nottingham and Swansea with eight each. Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol each recorded seven deaths.
Silent killer phenomenon
The researchers warned their results represent only a snapshot, as the cities studied represent about 30% of Europe's population. The majority of heat-related deaths go unreported, with the role of heat rarely recorded on death certificates.
People often die from underlying conditions such as heart, respiratory or kidney problems that are aggravated by high temperatures. Official government figures can take months to appear, highlighting why extreme heat is known as a "silent killer".
Vulnerable populations
People aged 65 and over made up 85% of the excess deaths across Europe this summer, with those over 85 accounting for 41%. The researchers said this shows that even a few degrees of additional heat can cause large surges in deaths when vulnerable people are exposed to temperatures beyond their usual limits.
Other factors also play a role, including preparedness, population demographics and air pollution. The team called for policies to build resilience to extreme heat, such as creating green spaces in cities where concrete surfaces trap heat.
Research findings
The analysis was conducted by 11 researchers from Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Bern, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and the University of Copenhagen. The study was released on Wednesday using peer-reviewed methods.
Clair Barnes, researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, said: "It may not sound like much, but our study shows that shifts in summer heat of just a few degrees can be the difference between life and death for thousands of people."
Urgent action needed
Barnes warned that climate change isn't an issue that can be dealt with in the future. She said: "The longer it takes governments to shift away from fossil fuels and cut emissions, the deadlier summer heat will become - even with efforts to become more resilient to extreme temperatures."
Malcolm Mistry, assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, noted that heat-health warning systems are well-developed across Europe but health burdens remain high. He warned: "Unless we urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the above interventions are going to have a limited role in mitigating the risks of human-induced global warming."
Global impact
A separate analysis by Climate Central found that one in five people worldwide - 1.8 billion every day - lived through heat strongly influenced by climate change. Nearly a billion people endured a full month of additional dangerous heat.
The research highlighted the need for adaptation policies including flexible work schedules, adjusting school calendars, increasing urban green space and improving public health infrastructure.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
