At least 15,000 deaths in Europe are directly linked to severe heat waves that hit the continent in the summer of 2022, according to a still incomplete assessment published by the WHO on Monday on the occasion of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27). AFP.

The summer of 2022 was the hottest on record for the Old Continent, causing numerous temperature records and dramatic fires.

“Based on already published national data, approximately 15,000 people will die from heat-related causes in 2022,” Hans Kluge, director of WHO Europe, said in a statement.

That number, which includes 4,500 deaths in Germany, nearly 4,000 in Spain, more than 3,200 in the United Kingdom and 1,000 in Portugal, “is set to rise as more countries report an increase in heat-related deaths,” he said.

Thus, the WHO notes that the French statistics institute Insee recorded an excess of 11,000 deaths in the summer of 2022 compared to the summer of 2019, which preceded the Covid pandemic, which is explained, “probably”, by the very strong heat recorded in June and July in particular.

According to the WHO, 148,000 people have died in Europe over the past 50 years due to extreme temperatures.

With 15,000 deaths undoubtedly heat-related, 2022 alone will account for more than 10% of that total.

“Climate change is already killing us, but decisive action today can prevent more deaths,” the UN health organization said at COP27 in Egypt.

According to a UN report released last week, Europe is the fastest warming continent, with temperatures rising by more than double the global average over the past three decades.

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