Folgen für Städte: Wie der Klimawandel Europas Stadtbewohnern zu schaffen macht
Neue Infektionskrankheiten, mehr Allergien und häufiger Hitze: Das alles gehört zunehmend zum Alltag in Europas Städten, wie eine aktuelle Studie zeigt.
The impact of climate change on European city dwellers is already evident. A study by "The Lancet" involving an international team led by Cathryn Tonne and José Chen-Xu from ISGlobal in Barcelona, using data from Eurostat and other sources, highlights the issue. European cities saw an average 82 additional deaths per million inhabitants due to heat-related illnesses between 2015 and 2024 compared to the period 1991-2000.
Southern Europe was notably affected. German cities, in particular, faced more frequent allergic pollen and Vibrio bacteria, as well as tree loss. Cities play a central role in addressing climate change by implementing adaptation and mitigation measures to create resilient and low-emission communities, boosting local economies, and improving public health.
The study examined 28 indicators of climate developments relevant to health in over 800 European cities. Heat-related deaths increased in nearly all cities, with an average of 64 additional deaths per million inhabitants in Western Europe (including Germany) compared to 132 in Southern Europe, a 161% increase. In Europe, the number of days exposed to wildfire smoke rose by 7% in 2003-2023, but decreased in some areas by 4%.
The warmer climate also led to an increase in previously tropical infectious diseases as vector mosquitoes colonize Europe. Dengue fever transmission risk in European cities rose by 111% from 2015-2024 compared to 1981-2010, with the highest rise in Eastern European cities (369%) and Western Europe (159%). Similar trends were observed for Chikungunya and Zika viruses.
Germany saw a 60% increase in Vibrio bacteria transmission between 2015-2024 compared to 1982-2010, as these bacteria thrive in warm seawater, affecting coastal cities in the North and Baltic Seas. Declining tree cover in German cities, which provided ecosystem services like reducing heat stress, improving air quality, and promoting mental well-being, saw an average 2% decrease from 2000-2020.
The UN Economic Commission for Europe recommends a minimum tree canopy cover of 30%, achieved by only 14% of European cities.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
