Study: Heat Deaths in Europe May Triple By 2100
Study: Heat Deaths in Europe May Triple By 2100
The Facts
According to a study published in the Lancet Public Health Journal on Wednesday, heat-related mortality in Europe may triple by the end of the century, with the numbers increasing disproportionately in southern European nations like Italy, Greece, and Spain.
Based on modeling data from 30 European nations, the researchers warned that heat-related deaths could increase from about 44K to nearly 129K per year, adding if global warming reaches 3°C, the number of heat-related deaths will outweigh the decrease in cold-related deaths.
The Spin
Climate change and an aging population will raise temperature-related mortality risk in Europe, presenting new challenges to public health systems. Policymakers and health authorities can prevent health disparities from worsening by protecting more vulnerable areas and seniors and improving resilience and adaptation in the forecasted high-risk areas.
While deadly extreme weather is real, so is the fact that such studies are flawed because mainstream science suggests that climate change's economic and social harms are modest in the long term. Moreover, a warming world offers hope that the effect of climate change could be positive, with many people doing incredible, innovative things that will have massive impacts on the planet's future.
