Europe’s killer heat this summer claims 50,000 lives. Climate change blamed for two-thirds of deaths

Blistering record temperatures in Europe this summer have claimed over 50,000 lives, with a new study attributing nearly two-thirds of the fatalities to human-induced climate change. Researchers modeled heat-related deaths across 854 European cities during the repeated heat waves in June, July, and August. They found that 50,391 people died from elevated temperatures, with 32,619 of those attributed to the extra heat caused by burning coal, oil, and gas.

This loss of life represents a 71% increase compared to the previous deadliest summer in 2022, when 29,480 people lost their lives due to heat. The study authors warn that the death figures are likely underestimates, as they didn't account for a deadly heat wave in May and only counted deaths in 40% of Europe's population residing in those 854 cities.

About one-third of the deaths occurred between June 17 and July 1, during an exceptionally intense heat wave when temperatures were 9.5 degrees Fahrenheit (5.3 degrees Celsius) above normal. Experts noted that many European cities experienced temperatures 21.6 F (12 C) warmer than usual, with Rome topping the list of cities with the highest number of heat-related deaths over the past 25 years.

The researchers used a scientifically validated method, comparing computer simulations of a world without climate change to the actual deaths that occurred, to determine the proportion of deaths caused by global warming.