Noticias

 The World Health Organization warned on Friday that 175,000 people die from heat-related causes in Europe each year. As global temperatures continue to rise, this number is expected to increase significantly. WHO Regional Director for Europe Krug said that the temperature rise rate in European countries is about twice the global average. More than 50 countries in Europe "are paying the ultimate price."

Just days ago, Earth recorded its hottest average temperature ever, at 17.16 degrees Celsius (62.89 degrees Fahrenheit), while the Northern Hemisphere was hit by a scorching summer heatwave.

Krug pointed out that the three hottest years on record in Europe have all occurred since 2020, while the hottest ten years have all occurred since 2007.

High temperature: the number one killer
Krug said that in Europe, heat stress is the leading cause of climate-related deaths in the region.

"Extreme temperatures like we are experiencing right now do exacerbate chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular disease, as well as conditions related to mental health and diabetes," he said. "The extreme heat we are experiencing is particularly problematic for older people, especially those living alone. It also places an additional burden on pregnant women."

Take protective measures
The WHO said more countries need to take action to reduce the impact of high temperatures on vulnerable groups.

The agency warned that more than 20 countries in the WHO European region have plans but these are "not sufficient to protect all communities."

The message chimes with a call for action on extreme heatwaves by UN Secretary-General António Guterres , who said the planet is "getting hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere".

Guterres made the comments in a week when Earth recorded its three hottest days in recent years, according to one of the data sets used by the World Meteorological Organization to monitor the climate.

Hot Earth
The World Health Organization pointed out that the global climate crisis has caused temperatures in some regions to rise to unbearable levels. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2019, about 489,000 people died each year from heat-related causes worldwide, of which 36% occurred in Europe, or an average of more than 175,000 people per year.

According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, on July 22, 2024, the global average daily temperature reached a record high of 17.16°C. On July 23, preliminary data showed a temperature of 17.15°C. On July 21, the temperature was recorded at 17.09°C. The temperatures on all three days were higher than the previous record of 17.08°C set on July 6, 2023.

WHO’s #Green Home initiative offers simple guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Krug said the negative health impacts of heat and extreme heat are largely preventable.

"If we are better prepared for hotter regions, we will save many lives now and in the future," he said.

The United Nations defines a heatwave as "an unusually hot and dry or hot and humid weather that has a subtle onset and end, lasts for at least two to three days, and has noticeable impacts on human activities."