Heat related deaths rise across Europe as climate risks intensify

Wednesday 22 April 2026 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Heat related deaths rise across Europe as climate risks intensify

Heat related deaths have increased in nearly all parts of Europe as climate change accelerates health risks across the continent, according to a major scientific report released on Earth Day. The findings show that 99.6 percent of monitored regions recorded a rise in heat linked mortality between 2015 and 2024 compared with the 1990s, highlighting the growing impact of extreme temperatures on public health.

The report documents a sharp rise in climate driven hazards. Heat alerts have surged by 318 percent, while pollen seasons now last one to two weeks longer than in the 1990s. The risk of dengue transmission has increased by 297 percent compared with the 1981 to 2010 baseline, reflecting the spread of disease carrying mosquitoes into new regions as temperatures climb.

Researchers estimate that around 62,000 people died from heat exposure in Europe in 2024 alone. The burden is uneven but widespread, with vulnerable populations such as older adults and infants facing significantly higher exposure. The number of person days of heat exposure among these groups has increased by 254 percent, while conditions unsafe for outdoor physical activity due to heat have risen by 88 percent since the 1990s.

The expansion of the tiger mosquito into northern areas has led to local outbreaks of dengue, a disease once largely confined to tropical regions. At the same time, air quality has deteriorated. Deaths linked to air pollution from household biomass burning were 4 percent higher in 2022 than in 2000, partly driven by increased reliance on wood heating as energy costs have risen.

The report also warns that continued dependence on fossil fuels is intensifying both health and geopolitical risks. Researchers argue that climate change driven by fossil fuel use is already affecting a growing share of Europe’s population and will worsen without stronger policy responses. They point to successful local and national measures as evidence that mitigation remains possible if implemented at scale.

Scientists call for urgent action to redirect financial resources away from fossil fuels toward clean energy and climate adaptation strategies. Without rapid intervention, they warn that the health impacts of climate change will continue to escalate, placing additional strain on healthcare systems and increasing mortality across the continent.