Translated by Jennifer Di Giacomo
According to a new study conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London, the past summer caused approximately 24,400 premature deaths due to heat waves. Of these, 16,469—equal to 68%—are attributable to climate change.
This large-scale analysis, conducted across 854 European cities, quantifies the direct impact of global warming on summer mortality on the continent. Specifically, the study compared temperatures observed in the summer of 2025 with a hypothetical scenario without man-made greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers estimated that temperatures in Europe are 1.5 to 2.9 °C higher due to climate change.
This has particularly affected vulnerable people, such as the elderly over 65 and those with pre-existing medical conditions, who account for about 80% of excess heat-related deaths.
Significant differences were also found between the cities analysed. According to the study, Rome recorded 835 deaths related to heat due to climate change, Athens 630, Paris 409, Madrid 387, and Bucharest 360. Among these, Rome, Athens, and Bucharest had the highest mortality rates per million inhabitants.
Cities are in fact the most exposed areas due to urban heat islands. Large amounts of concrete and asphalt retain heat, while transport and energy consumption generate even more, intensifying high temperatures.
The authors also point out that the study only considered cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, which represent about 30% of the European population: the overall data, if extended to the entire continent, could therefore be even higher.
Europe is therefore confirmed as one of the areas of the world where temperatures are rising most rapidly; for this reason, the study strongly calls for mitigation and adaptation policies.
Mitigation refers to any action aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines it as “anthropogenic intervention to reduce sources or enhance sinks of greenhouse gases.” Adaptation, on the other hand, is defined by the intergovernmental group as “the ability of a system to adapt to climate change, moderating potential damage, taking advantage of opportunities, or coping with the consequences.”
In this context, the actions recommended in the study include, for example, the introduction of early warning systems for heat waves, improvements in housing and urban planning such as the expansion of green spaces, the strengthening of health and social services, and the adaptation of working conditions during periods of extreme heat.
These measures could significantly reduce deaths during heat waves, and as the authors point out, addressing this challenge means protecting the health and well-being of the community, in addition to safeguarding the economic and social stability of the entire continent.
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