More than 2,700 deaths in UK linked to May, June heatwaves
Researchers estimate that unprecedented heatwaves in the UK in May and June have been linked to over 2,700 heat-related deaths.
A new study published on Monday estimates that more than 2,700 deaths in England and Wales are linked to the record heatwaves that struck the United Kingdom in May and June. According to the research, 550 heat-related deaths occurred between May 21 and 29, and nearly 2,200 people died between June 18 and 28.
The study was conducted by scientists from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. They used weather data, climate models, and studies on excess mortality during extreme weather to arrive at their estimate.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said it will publish its official estimate of heat-related deaths in the coming weeks, based on death records from the recent heatwaves.
Climate change driving heatwaves
The UK and much of Europe have already experienced two record-breaking heatwaves this year, with temperatures in England reaching 35.1°C (95.2°F) in May and 37.7°C (99.9°F) in June. Mark McCarthy, science manager at the Met Office's climate attribution team, noted that these heatwaves were extreme for the UK and Western Europe, particularly because of how early in the year they occurred.
Scientists emphasized the role of climate change in making heatwaves more intense and frequent. They estimated that maximum daytime temperatures were up to 4°C (7.2°F) higher than they would have been without global warming.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the British government on climate change, warned last year that the UK was "not ready" to deal with the consequences of climate change.
Lea Berrang Ford from UKHSA's Centre for Climate and Health Security said the study would help illustrate the scale of risk associated with extreme heat and the growing threat climate change poses to wellbeing.
In a report published in May, UKHSA estimated that 92 percent of British homes could be too hot by 2050. It recommended that the government set maximum temperature limits in workplaces and invest in air conditioning for public buildings such as hospitals and schools.
The research on heat-related deaths in the UK comes as data showed that more than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during the heatwaves in late June. The EuroMOMO network, backed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, said most of those deaths were among people aged 65 and above, with 9,000 excess deaths reported in that age range. Scientists pooled national mortality statistics from 27 European countries and concluded that, without other notable factors such as COVID-19 outbreaks, the heatwave most likely contributed to the spike of 10,650 excess deaths between June 22 and 28.
