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Paris, 18 September 2025.- The summer of 2025 was a murder in Europe: more than 15,000 people died because of heat, and scientists attribute nearly two thirds of these deaths to human-induced global warming. Older persons remain the most vulnerable.
This summer, Europe experienced record temperatures that caused the deaths of thousands of people, mainly among those over 65. The researchers point out that climate change, largely caused by human activity, has increased the intensity of heat waves and therefore their impact on mortality.
The study, which covered 854 European cities representing about one third of the continent's population, estimates that temperatures would have been on average 2.2 °C lower without global warming. Of the 24.400 heat-related deaths recorded during the summer, 16.500 would be directly attributable to the effect of climate change.
Older populations are the most affected: 85 per cent of victims were over 65 years of age, and 41 per cent were over 85 years of age. In Paris, for example, about 400 deaths between June and August could be attributed to extreme heat. Despite these figures, death certificates rarely mention heat as the main cause.
According to the researchers, the upward trend in summer temperatures in Europe necessitates urgent adaptation of public policies, particularly with regard to health prevention and protection of vulnerable populations.
Summer 2025 recalls that climate change is no longer a distant threat: it already influences public health and increases heat-related mortality. Scientists call for stronger protective measures, especially for older people, to limit the effects of future heat waves.
R.J.
