- Scientists attribute human factors to the high temperatures recorded in the last two years
Research from the Institute for Global Health in Barcelona, Spain, determined that 56% of heat deaths in Europe were related to human-caused climate change.
According to the study, 38,154 of the 68,593 deaths related to high temperatures could have been avoided without the global warming that is currently being recorded in the world.
The analysis, published on October 29 in the magazine Nature. Climate and Atmospheric Sciencedetailed that the researchers analyzed temperature and mortality records in 35 European countries, adjusting epidemiological models to estimate the number of heat-related deaths during 2022.
Using the database of global temperature anomalies since 1880, they calculated the increase in temperatures caused by man-made warming in each region.
With this analysis, scientists obtained an estimate of what temperatures would have been like without the influence of climate change. Subsequently, they applied the epidemiological model in this hypothetical scenario, and estimated the mortality that would have occurred in the absence of global warming.
The results of the study found that the number of heat-related deaths per million inhabitants in Europe attributable to climate change increased by 40%. In addition, greater vulnerability was observed among certain population groups, especially women and people over 80 years of age.
“This study sheds light on the extent to which global warming affects public health. Although we observed an increase in heat-related mortality in almost all countries analyzed, not all people are affected equally,” said Thessa Beck, lead author of the study.
Threats of climate change on health
The eighth annual report Countdown on health and climatepublished on October 30 by the magazine The Lancet, the threats of climate change on health reached record levels during the year 2023.
According to the study, last year was the hottest on record, and people were exposed, on average, to 50 more days of extreme temperatures, 1,512 hours of heat exposure during light exercise, and a record 512 thousand potential hours of work lost globally.
The report, prepared by 122 experts from 57 institutions around the world, also highlighted the rapid increase in heat-related deaths from climate change, especially among people over 65 years of age, which skyrocketed 167% with regarding deaths that occurred in the nineties.
In 2023, droughts affected 48% of the Earth’s surface – the second highest figure on record – and the high frequency of heat waves was associated with 151 million more people experiencing food insecurity than between 1981 and 2010; as well as with the increased risk of flooding, infectious diseases or water contamination.
The director of the study, Marina Romanello, assured that the report’s findings were “the most worrying” in eight years of monitoring, and warned that the record emissions recorded project a more unattainable healthy future.
The authors call out governments and companies for their investments in fossil fuels, which increase greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the survival of the planet’s population, and call for the trillions of dollars invested in the sector to be redirected to ensure a rapid and fair transition to a zero-emissions economy.
According to the report, fossil fuels accounted for 36.6% of global energy investment last year, and emissions from the top 114 oil and gas companies are projected to be 59% above levels compatible with warming of 1.5ºC by 2030 and up to 189% in 2040.
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#Manmade #global #warming #increases #heat #deaths
Fected millions globally, exacerbating food insecurity and water scarcity. The report pointed to a significant rise in vector-borne diseases, with warmer temperatures creating more favorable conditions for the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
The health risks associated with extreme heat are not only direct, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke but also indirect. The stress on healthcare systems increases, as hospitals and emergency services become overwhelmed during heatwaves. Vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are disproportionately affected.
the studies highlight an urgent call for action to mitigate climate change’s impacts on health. Investments in public health infrastructure, targeted interventions for at-risk populations, and initiatives to curb greenhouse gas emissions are essential steps to protect vulnerable communities from the increasing threats posed by a changing climate.
