By Abdullahi Lukman
Human-driven climate change intensified the recent European heatwave by up to 4°C in many cities, significantly increasing health risks and contributing to thousands of heat-related deaths, scientists reported Wednesday.
A rapid study by researchers from five European institutions examined 12 cities during the heatwave from June 23 to July 2, when temperatures soared above 40°C in some areas.
The study found that without human-induced warming from fossil fuels, the heatwave would have been 2 to 4 degrees cooler in all but one city.
This additional heat pushed temperatures into dangerous levels, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly, sick, children, and outdoor workers, in cities with a combined population exceeding 30 million. Major capitals affected included Paris, London, Rome, and Madrid.
Lead author Ben Clarke of Imperial College London explained that while some people experience mild warm weather, the extra heat places a large segment of the population at greater risk.
For the first time, the study used epidemiological models to estimate heat-related deaths during the event, concluding that about 2,300 people died in the 12 cities over 10 days, with roughly 1,500 deaths—two-thirds—attributed to climate change.
Experts caution this is an early estimate and likely a partial count, as official death tallies are still pending. Urban areas exacerbate heat impacts due to heat retention by buildings and pavements, further endangering residents.
The EU’s climate monitor Copernicus confirmed June as the hottest on record in Western Europe, with prolonged “tropical nights” preventing body recovery overnight.
Garyfallos Konstantinoudis of Imperial College London called heatwaves “silent killers” because many deaths occur unseen at home or in hospitals and are underreported.
Authorities warn it may take weeks to determine the full human cost of the heatwave, though similar events in previous years have caused tens of thousands of deaths across Europe.
