Deaths due to heat increase by 30% in 2023

The Copernicus Climate Change Service, an EU Earth observation programme, revealed a record number of days of “extreme heat stress”.

The heat has caused a 30% increase in deaths in 2023, the hottest year on record. This is confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European Union’s Earth observation programme, which reports a record number of days of “extreme heat stress”.

Monitoring of Copernicus systems has revealed an increase in adverse health effects Related to extreme weather and climate events, particularly in the last decade. It is estimated that more than 2,000 people died due to the heat in Spain this summer.

heat related mortality There has been an increase of about 30% in the last 20 years and it is estimated that related deaths with high temperature they have increased by 94% Thousands of European regions were monitored.

The ESOTC report tells us what scientists have been warning about for years: high temperature kills, Prolonged exposure to extreme heat, combined with factors such as humidity and others, can exacerbate certain diseases and increase the risk of suffering from illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, especially among vulnerable populations.

What is most worrying is that the population, including vulnerable groups and “some health professionals”, are aware of the consequences of high temperatures for health, but they do not understand it. As low risk,” According to the report on the state of the climate in Europe in 2023 (ESOTC 2023).

The report provides information on and analyzes climate conditions and variations across all terrestrial systems, oceans, glaciers, atmospheric currents, vegetation, other major events and their impacts, as well as a debate on climate action. Concentrates. human health.

Glaciers shrink and their volume decreases

In addition, it reveals the main findings about snow and glaciers in Europe and they do not bode well, as they confirm that the glaciers of the Alps suffered an extraordinary loss of ice due to below average snowfall in 2023 Was. , but also because of the intense heat caused by heat waves.

Between 2022 and 2023, glaciers in the Alps are projected to lose about 10% of their remaining volume.

In the Arctic region, the year overall was sixth warmest in the Arctic Arctic sea ice levels have remained below average for most of 2023, since records began.

At its annual high in March, the monthly expansion was 4% below average, the fifth lowest on record. Its annual low, recorded in September, was the sixth-lowest monthly expansion, as it was 18% below the average.

Wildfires in subarctic and Arctic regions caused total carbon emissions to rise to the second highest on record between May and September, especially in Canada.

The high temperature also affected the sea. moderate temperature Europe’s sea level was at its highest level on record. In some areas of the Mediterranean Sea and the north-east of the Atlantic Ocean, the highest temperatures since records existed.

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