Summer Europe heatwaves resulting in over 16,000 reported fatalities attributed to climate change
Europe faced an unprecedented heatwave this summer, with temperatures soaring to record-breaking levels in several countries. According to a rapid-analysis study by researchers at Imperial College London (ICL) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, this summer was the fourth hottest in European history, and climate change was responsible for 68% of the heat-related deaths that occurred.
The study, which used an existing dataset to estimate heat-related deaths across 854 urban areas in Europe, found that 24,400 people died from heat-related causes between June and August 2025. The highest heat-related death rates per capita were recorded in Rome, Athens, and Bucharest.
The study also revealed that people over 64 made up 85% of the climate-related deaths in European cities this summer. This is concerning, as many of the deaths during heat waves are not necessarily recorded as heat deaths. Extreme heat can raise the risk of deadly heart attacks and strokes and fatally worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Climate change was responsible for warming temperatures across Europe, with the continent warming more quickly than the rest of the planet. This means that temperatures on the continent this summer were about 1.5°C to 2.9°C warmer than they would have been without anthropogenic warming.
The urban heat island effect, where cities are generally hotter than surrounding areas, also played a role in the high temperatures experienced in European cities. This effect occurs due to the concentration of buildings, roads, and human activities that increase heat absorption and release.
Finland saw an "unprecedented" three straight weeks of 30°C heat, and Türkiye recorded its highest recorded temperature ever (50.5°C, or 122.9°F). Spain also experienced its most intense heat wave in history in August 2025.
Despite these alarming figures, there are no specific search results available that report which European cities or urban areas with more than 50,000 inhabitants experienced above-average heat-related deaths in the summer months of 2025. The study did not consider cities' efforts to adapt to climate change, all adverse health effects of heat, and changes to baseline populations that occurred post-COVID-19.
However, the study's authors noted that the growing toll warming is taking on human health is not unique to Europe. Courtney Howard, vice-chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and an emergency physician in Canada's Yellowknives Dene Territory, noted that ozone pollution tends to increase during extreme heat events. Clair Barnes, a statistician at ICL's Centre for Environmental Policy, stated that the basic point of these studies will always be the same: that we are warming the world through our fossil fuel emissions and other activities and that this is causing people to die.
Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, a biostatistician at ICL's Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment, said the estimated deaths could have tripled without climate change. Chris Callahan, a climate scientist at Indiana University Bloomington, believes the study's methods are standard and based on extensive peer-reviewed research.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were the only three Baltic nations not to experience a hotter-than-usual summer, according to the study. As the world continues to warm, it is crucial to understand the impact of climate change on human health and take steps to mitigate its effects.
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