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A recent scientific study has found that around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 major European cities during a severe 10-day heatwave that ended on July 2.
Researchers say that about 1,500 of those deaths can be directly linked to human-caused climate change.
The extreme heat swept through parts of Western Europe between June 23 and July 2, with temperatures soaring above 40°C (104°F) in Spain and wildfires erupting in France.
The study covered cities including London, Madrid, Milan, and Barcelona, which together have a population of over 30 million.
According to the research team from institutions such as Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, climate change raised heatwave temperatures, making the event significantly more dangerous.
Last month was the planet’s third-hottest June on record, behind the same month in 2024 and 2023, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said in a monthly bulletin on Wednesday.
“Climate change has made it significantly hotter than it would have been, which in turn makes it a lot more dangerous,” said Dr. Ben Clarke of Imperial College London.
Using epidemiological models and historical mortality data, researchers estimated the number of deaths caused by heat, especially where it worsened existing health conditions. Most heat-related deaths are not officially recorded, making such rapid scientific analysis essential.
The study comes as Europe records its hottest June ever in parts of the continent, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Experts warn that as global temperatures rise due to greenhouse gas emissions and burning masses of fossil fuels, heatwaves will become more frequent, intense, and deadly.
A separate study in 2023 found that heatwaves in 2022 may have caused up to 61,000 deaths across Europe, highlighting ongoing concerns over climate resilience and public health preparedness.
