2025 Sees Historic Surge in Heat Fatalities Across Europe

2025-09-17 08:44:40

(MENAFN) Heat-related fatalities in European cities have surged more than threefold this year, driven by human-induced climate change, according to a new report released Wednesday. The research, conducted by Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, highlights a devastating toll as extreme temperatures claim the lives of thousands across 854 cities.

This summer, climate change was responsible for two-thirds of the heat deaths in these cities, totaling 16,469 fatalities due to scorching temperatures. The study notes that June to August 2025 was the fourth hottest summer on record, exceeding the 1990-2020 average by 0.9°C.

The study reveals that climate change contributed to 68% of the estimated 24,400 heat-related deaths during this period, with temperatures soaring by as much as 3.6°C. This figure, however, is only a partial snapshot, as the 854 cities analyzed account for roughly 30% of Europe’s total population.

In an earlier report, the same research team found that climate change had likely tripled the death toll from a devastating heatwave that struck Europe in July.

Climate change accounted for significant death tolls in various countries, including 4,597 in Italy, 2,841 in Spain, 1,477 in Germany, and 1,444 in France. The UK saw 1,147 deaths, while Romania recorded 1,064. Greece, Bulgaria, and Croatia suffered additional fatalities, with 808, 552, and 268 deaths respectively.

Notably, the study points out the disproportionate impact on older populations, with individuals aged 65 and above making up 85% of the excess deaths. This demographic vulnerability underscores the growing dangers of increasingly hotter summers for Europe’s aging population.

While the report stresses the urgent need for policies to shield vulnerable communities from extreme heat, it concludes that a swift transition away from fossil fuels is the "most effective" strategy to prevent even more deadly summers in the future.

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