WHO reports over 200,000 heat‑related deaths in Europe

More than 200,000 people across Europe have died from heat-related causes over the past four years, with the vast majority of those deaths deemed preventable, the World Health Organization’s Europe office announced on Thursday. The agency warned that extreme heat, driven by climate change, has become a recurring public health crisis requiring urgent and coordinated government action.

WHO Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge launched updated Heat-Health Action Plans Guidance at an event in Berlin, describing the impacts of climate change as a clear and present danger. He stated that extreme heat is its most immediate and lethal manifestation. Heatwaves are no longer rare anomalies but are now a recurring crisis that claims lives, inflicts suffering, and strains health systems and infrastructure, he said.

The new guidance outlines evidence-based measures governments and cities can implement to reduce heat-related illness and deaths. These include establishing early warning systems, opening cooling centers, creating more urban green spaces, and providing targeted support for vulnerable populations such as older adults, people with pre-existing health conditions, and outdoor workers....