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12h ago

Study Finds Climate Change Tripled Death Toll in June–July European Heatwave

Preliminary findings attribute roughly two-thirds of the heatwave’s 2,300 excess fatalities to human-driven warming.

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FILE - An employee takes a break as he works at a road construction site in Milan, Italy, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
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Overview

  • Researchers used rapid attribution methods and epidemiological models to show human-induced warming made the June 23–July 2 heatwaves 1–4 °C hotter across 12 major European cities.
  • The analysis estimates about 1,500 of the 2,300 excess heat-related deaths resulted from climate change, tripling the expected fatality count.
  • Older adults faced the highest risk, accounting for 88 percent of climate-driven heatwave deaths among vulnerable populations.
  • Extreme temperatures triggered red and amber health alerts, prompted school closures in France and banned outdoor work in Italy as wildfire threats rose.
  • Authors stress the study is a preliminary snapshot awaiting peer review and emphasize the need for faster emissions reductions and adaptive public health measures.