WHO Warns Europe Over Extreme Heat After 200,000 Deaths in Four Years

WHO Warns Europe Over Extreme Heat After 200,000 Deaths in Four Years
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The World Health Organization has warned that Europe must strengthen protection for citizens against extreme heatwaves as the climate crisis accelerates, noting that the continent is warming faster than any other region in the world.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said more than 200,000 people across the region have died from heat-related causes over the past four years. He described heatwaves as a “silent killer” whose effects can be prevented if Europe makes full use of the tools already available.

Kluge presented updated guidance on heat protection during a special event in Berlin focused on responding to heatwaves. The event was attended by German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and Berlin health official Ina Czyborra, with particular emphasis on protecting older people and other vulnerable groups.

Schneider said the effects of climate change are now being felt around the world, adding that heat protection is also a social issue. He noted that residents of crowded urban areas and overheated housing often face greater difficulty protecting themselves from high temperatures.

He said reducing emissions and expanding green spaces in cities, including trees, parks, rivers, forests and wetlands, could help limit the impact of future heatwaves.