A severe heatwave is currently gripping Europe, endangering public health and forcing continental leaders to prioritize investments in climate-resilient health services, according to the head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday. As temperatures climb and record-breaking heat leaves tens of thousands of residents without power, the continent remains largely ill-prepared for such extreme thermal conditions.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, stated on X that the heatwave is shuttering schools and posing significant health risks. He noted that data indicates temperatures across Europe are climbing at roughly twice the global average rate, which increases the likelihood and intensity of future extreme heat events. Tedros urged leaders to avoid further delays in prioritizing climate-resilient health systems while simultaneously accelerating efforts to mitigate the drivers of the climate crisis.
Scientific studies published this week confirm that human-induced climate change is significantly exacerbating these extremes, estimating that current temperatures would be 2 to 4C lower without such influence. In response, the WHO is stressing the importance of distinguishing between heat exhaustion—characterized by headaches, dizziness, nausea, and cramps—and heatstroke, which is a life-threatening emergency marked by confusion, collapse, and seizures. The agency recalled that high-intensity heat events can result in high acute mortality, citing the 2003 event that caused 70,000 deaths in Europe between June and August.
For personal safety, the WHO recommends using electric fans only when temperatures remain below 40C, cautioning that above this threshold, fans will actually heat the body. If using air conditioning, they suggest setting thermostats to 27C and using a fan to make the room feel 4C cooler, noting that shaded outdoor areas may sometimes be cooler. Residents are urged to maintain hydration by drinking at least two to three litres of water daily.
The situation comes as IPCC chairman Jim Skea warned that current heatwaves are reaching the edge of scientific projections, with some regional and oceanic impacts exceeding expectations. Skea noted that the hottest days are warming 50 to 100 percent faster than average days. He added that in a world experiencing a 2C average temperature rise, the year’s hottest day would be 3C to 3.5C hotter than current levels. On Wednesday alone, at least 94 million people, mostly in Spain and France, were expected to face temperatures above 35C. Furthermore, based on German weather service forecasts and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre, maximum temperatures are expected to exceed 30C for more than 350 million people, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the European population excluding Turkey.
