Berlin: Extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across Europe over the past four years, according to the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), which warned that heatwaves are becoming an increasingly frequent and deadly public health emergency driven by climate change.
According to Emirates News Agency, WHO Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge emphasized the need for a coordinated and powerful response at the launch of the updated Heat-Health Action Plans Guidance in Berlin. The new guidance provides evidence-based measures that governments can implement to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths. These measures include early warning systems, cooling centres, urban greening initiatives, and targeted support for vulnerable populations.
WHO highlighted that while individual actions such as staying hydrated and avoiding direct heat exposure are important, they are not sufficient to address the growing systemic challenge posed by extreme heat. Heat-health action plans are essential for helping cities and countries anticipate, prepare for, and respond to periods of extreme heat in a coordinated and effective manner.
Europe is experiencing faster warming than any other continent, which places older individuals, those with pre-existing health conditions, and other vulnerable groups at increased risk. Dr. Kluge stated that the goal is clear and ambitious: achieving zero heat-related deaths.