Burning fossil fuels linked to 1,500 deaths in Europe’s latest heat wave
A new analysis directly attributes about 1,500 deaths in 12 European cities last week to the intensifying effects of climate change caused by fossil fuel emissions.
Seth Borenstein reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Scientists from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used rapid attribution methods to link 65% of the 2,300 estimated heat-related deaths to human-driven climate change.
- The study found climate change added 2 to 4°C to temperatures in most cities, increasing risk especially for older populations—over 1,100 of the deaths were people aged 75 or older.
- Milan, Barcelona, and Paris saw the most deaths, while cities like Lisbon and Frankfurt were less affected, partly due to oceanic or geographic factors.
Key quote:
“Those 1,500 people ‘have only died because of climate change, so they would not have died if it would not have been for our burning of oil, coal and gas in the last century.’”
— Friederike Otto, climate scientist at Imperial College
Why this matters:
Heat waves now kill thousands across Europe each summer, but new science is making the human cost of fossil fuel use starkly visible. This research goes beyond modeling weather shifts, directly tying lives lost to excess heat driven by coal, oil, and gas. Older adults, especially those with heart or lung conditions, are most at risk. In cities that already trap heat and lack green space or cooling infrastructure, even a few extra degrees can overwhelm bodies and health systems. As the planet continues warming, the toll from extreme heat is expected to rise.
Read more: Extreme heat and wildfires surge across southern Europe as temperatures break records
