Reuters: Heatwave in Europe Caused 2300 Deaths, Study Says Climate Change Worsened Disasters

Reuters reported on July 9 that according to a rapid analysis study published by scientists from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine on Wednesday, about 2300 people in 12 cities across Europe died from causes related to high temperatures during a severe heatwave that lasted 10 days up to July 2, with 1500 of these deaths linked to climate change intensifying the heatwave. This heatwave swept much of Western Europe, with temperatures in Spain exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and wildfires breaking out in France. The study covered cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, London, and Milan, pointing out that climate change increased the temperature of this heatwave by 4 degrees Celsius. Researchers used epidemiological models and historical mortality data to estimate the number of deaths, emphasizing that high temperatures could be the underlying cause of death or exacerbate existing health problems. On the same day, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June this year was the third hottest June on record globally, and Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, with most areas experiencing "severe heat stress" with apparent temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius. The head of climate strategy at the agency, Samantha Burgess, warned: "Under the background of global warming, heatwaves are likely to become more frequent, more intense, and affect more people in Europe." A 2023 study showed that the scorching heatwave in Europe in 2022 may have caused up to 61,000 deaths.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837159278923083/

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