The World Health Organization said Thursday that more than 200,000 deaths from extreme heat have occurred in Europe since 2022. This followed a heatwave that brought some countries their highest May temperatures on record.
Hans Henri Kluge, the WHO’s Europe director, called the effects of climate change a direct threat, with extreme heat as its most immediate and deadly result.
Heat acts as a silent killer but one that can be prevented, Kluge said while launching new guidelines in Berlin on protecting people from high temperatures.
The very old, the very young and people with heart, kidney or other illnesses face the greatest risks through dehydration, heatstroke and worsening of existing conditions.
Kluge stated that most of the 200,000 deaths were preventable and that the figure was only part of a larger problem affecting millions more physically and mentally.
Scientists link human-driven climate change to stronger and more frequent extremes including heatwaves, droughts and floods.
Kluge noted that Europe is warming faster than any other continent.
The WHO guidance calls for effective heat-warning systems and communication with vulnerable groups. It also urges urban planning steps such as more green spaces to reduce heat exposure.
Additional measures include social services checking that older people remain hydrated and adjusting worker shifts to avoid midday sun.
While personal steps like avoiding the heat are useful, Kluge said they are not enough against a systemic crisis and called for a coordinated institutional response.
