Extreme Heat Drives Thousands of Deaths Across European Cities

Extreme heat is increasingly posing severe health risks worldwide, with Europe and major cities like Chicago and Los Angeles experiencing deadly and debilitating impacts. A recent study found that climate change has nearly tripled heat-related deaths in European cities during a heatwave, with older adults being the most affected. In Los Angeles, vulnerable renters face unsafe indoor heat without guaranteed access to air conditioning, prompting calls for new tenant protections as extreme heat worsens. Chicago’s heat emergencies reveal systemic inequities, with rising temperatures linked not only to physical health crises but also to mental health challenges, including increased anxiety and suicide rates. The World Bank warns that heatwaves will become more frequent and deadly in Europe and Central Asia, especially in urban areas suffering from the urban heat island effect, and recommends strategies such as increasing green spaces and improving infrastructure resilience. These combined findings underscore the urgent need for public health initiatives, equitable access to cooling, and climate-adaptive urban planning to protect vulnerable populations from the escalating threat of extreme heat.