The Lancet Countdown Europe report reveals that heat health warnings across Europe have surged by 318% compared to the 1990s. Almost all European regions monitored saw an increase in heat-attributable deaths during 2015-2024 compared to 1991-2000, the report states. In 2024 alone, 62,000 people died in Europe due to warmer temperatures, according to the report.
Climate change has prolonged the pollen season by one to two weeks compared to the 1990s, the Lancet Countdown report found. In the UK, more than 10 million people suffer from hay fever, and symptoms are usually worse when the weather is warm, humid and windy, typically between late March and September. The report notes that the extended pollen season increases the allergy burden across Europe.
The report also highlights growing risks of infectious diseases and food insecurity. The overall average risk of dengue outbreaks in Europe has almost quadrupled over the last decade, increasing by 297% since 1980-2010, according to the report. Additionally, over one million more people were affected by moderate or severe food insecurity across Europe in 2023 compared to the 1981-2010 baseline.
Despite these escalating threats, political attention to the link between climate change and health remains minimal. Of 4,477 speeches delivered in the European Parliament in 2024, only 21 addressed the connection between climate change and health, the report found. This lack of attention underscores a critical gap in policy response to the health impacts of climate change.