Man-made climate change made European heat wave much more deadly
Climate-warming caused by burning fossil fuels, including oil, gas and coal, made the heatwave much hotter, boosting heat deaths from about 800 to an estimated 2,300 across 12 European cities, according to a new research study published by Imperial College London's Grantham Institute.
"Rapid analysis" of the period June 23 through July 2 using existing peer-reviewed methods found climate change nearly tripled the number of heat-related deaths, with fossil fuel burning driving additional temperature rise of up to 4 degrees Celsius.
During 10 days of heat peaking on July 1, Milan saw the most excess deaths due to climate change at 317, followed by Barcelona with 286, Paris, 235, London, 171, and Rome, 164.
Sassari on the island of Sardinia, had just six excess deaths due to climate change-induced heat, notwithstanding that it has a population around 1/70th the size of London.
The elderly were disproportionately affected, with people older than 65 accounting for 88% of the deaths due to climate change, which the study said underscored the scale of the risk of premature death in heatwaves for people with underlying health conditions and for Europe with its aging population.
However, the scientists at Imperial and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine warned that the figures meant the likely death toll far exceeded other recent weather disasters, including floods in Valencia in summer 2024 and floods in northwestern Europe in 2021.
"This study demonstrates why heat waves are known as silent killers," said Malcolm Mistry, co-author of the study and an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told The Guardian.
Imperial College climate scientist Ben Clarke said the dangers of heat waves were not widely recognized, as the deaths they caused did not grab the headlines like other disasters.
"Heat waves don't leave a trail of destruction like wildfires or storms. Their impacts are mostly invisible but quietly devastating. A change of just 2 or 3 degrees Celsius can mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people."
Imperial College climate specialist Garyfallos Konstantinoudis said the actual number of climate change heat-related deaths for all of Europe may well be in the tens of thousands as the study was only a snapshot, not the full picture.
The study warns that heat waves would continue to get hotter and predicts the number of people dying would continue to rise unless the world stops burning fossil fuels and achieves net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Separate data from the Spanish government pinpointed at least 450 extreme heat-related deaths between June 21 and July 2, up more than 70% from 2022, when 40 degrees Celsius plus temperatures killed record numbers of people.
The European Union's Climate Change Service said the global temperature in June was the highest ever recorded.
It said an "exceptional" marine heatwave in the western Mediterranean pushed the daily sea surface temperature to a record 27 degrees Celsius.
Heat-related deaths are forecast to be 10 times higher when global temperature rises hits 1.5 degrees Celsius and 30 times higher at 3 degrees Celsius, the European Environment Agency warned last month.
Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UN says 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2024
LONDON (AP) — More than 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year — about the same number as the year before — according to U.N. health officials. Nine countries accounted for more than half of those unprotected children. In their annual estimate of global vaccine coverage, released Tuesday, the World Health Organization and UNICEF said about 89% of children under one year old got a first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough vaccine in 2024, the same as in 2023. About 85% completed the three-dose series, up from 84% in 2023. Officials acknowledged, however, that the collapse of international aid this year will make it more difficult to reduce the number of unprotected children. In January, U.S. President Trump withdrew the country from the WHO, froze nearly all humanitarian aid and later moved to close the U.S. AID Agency. And last month, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it was pulling the billions of dollars the U.S. had previously pledged to the vaccines alliance Gavi, saying the group had 'ignored the science.' Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, has previously raised questions the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough vaccine — which has proven to be safe and effective after years of study and real-world use. Vaccines prevent 3.5 million to 5 million deaths a year, according to U.N. estimates. 'Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress,' said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. U.N. experts said that access to vaccines remained 'deeply unequal' and that conflict and humanitarian crises quickly unraveled progress; Sudan had the lowest reported coverage against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. The data showed that nine countries accounted for 52% of all children who missed out on immunizations entirely: Nigeria, India, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Angola. WHO and UNICEF said that coverage against measles rose slightly, with 76% of children worldwide receiving both vaccine doses. But experts say measles vaccine rates need to reach 95% to prevent outbreaks of the extremely contagious disease. WHO noted that 60 countries reported big measles outbreaks last year. The U.S. is now having its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, while the disease has also surged across Europe, with 125,000 cases in 2024 — twice as many as the previous year, according to WHO. Last week, British authorities reported a child died of measles in a Liverpool hospital. Health officials said that despite years of efforts to raise awareness, only about 84% of children in the U.K. are protected. 'It is hugely concerning, but not at all surprising, that we are continuing to see outbreaks of measles,' said Helen Bradford, a professor of children's health at University College London. 'The only way to stop measles spreading is with vaccination,' she said in a statement. 'It is never too late to be vaccinated — even as an adult.' __ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
UPI
2 hours ago
- UPI
FDA adds new blue food dye from gardenia fruit
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies at a House committee on June 24. The FDA on Monday approved the use of a new blue color additive from the gardenia fruit, the fourth coloring from natural sources added in the last two months. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI. | License Photo July 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the use of a new blue color additive from the gardenia fruit, the fourth coloring from natural sources added in the last two months. The blue color, which comes from the white flowering evergreen, can be used for sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks, ready-to-drink teas plus hard and soft candy, the FDA said in a news release. The health agency also announced a letter was sent to manufacturers encouraging them to phase out Red No. 3 in foods sooner than Jan. 15, 2027, which is the required deadline announced in April by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The dye has been linked to cancer in rats at high amounts. At that time, Kennedy announced measures to work with the industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food. They have committed to ending 40% of the additives. "Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose," Kennedy said in a news release. "The FDA's approval of gardenia blue shows we're finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary's bold leadership, we're cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to make American Healthy Again." Makary, the FDA commissioner, said: "Now, by extracting the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes." The coloring is made by refining the compound genipin. It is derived from crushed gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit, which often is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Soy, which is a potential allergen, is used to make gardenia blue, but the group said it is detected in the additive and won't cause allergic reactions. Gardenia Blue Interest Group asked to exempt it from labeling. The FDA on July 9 said it is reviewing the request. In May, three other colors were approved: galdieria extract blue, white calcium phosphate and butterfly pea flower extract in blue, purple and green. Color additives must be approved by the FDA before they may be used in foods. On Friday, Consumer Brands announced a voluntary commitment to encourage makers of consumer packaged goods and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug and Cosmetic colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026-2027 school year. The International Association of Color Manufacturers said in a news release that artificial dyes are "essential for consistency, visual appeal and consumer trust in food products." Several major food companies are removing synthetic food colorings from their products, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills by the end of 2027. But Mars, which makes M&M's and Skittles, said it will continue using the synthetic dyes in its candies, reversing a pledge the company made in 2016 to remove artificial colors from all foods and snacks. The company told The New York Times that its products are "safe to enjoy and meet the high standards and applicable regulations set by food safety authorities around the world." A spokesman for the National Confectionery Association, Christopher Gindlesperger, told the New York Post: "People can freely use cannabis, THC products, alcohol and cigarettes but vibrantly colored candy is an issue? Ge me a break."
Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business Wire
Vertex Announces Broad Reimbursement Agreement With NHS England for ALYFTREK ® (Deutivacaftor/Tezacaftor/Vanzacaftor) an Innovative Once-Daily CFTR Modulator for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced today that it has reached a broad reimbursement agreement with NHS England for Vertex's cystic fibrosis (CF) medicine ALYFTREK ® (deutivacaftor/tezacaftor/vanzacaftor). This agreement comes as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a positive final draft recommendation for this medicine. This next-in-class triple combination treatment is licensed for people living with CF aged 6 years and older who have at least one F508del mutation or another responsive mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. 'We're proud that ALYFTREK ®, our fifth CF medicine, is available today as another treatment option for all eligible CF patients in England. It represents a significant milestone in our journey to serially innovate and further improve the lives of people living with this disease,' said Ludovic Fenaux, Senior Vice President, Vertex International. 'In our pivotal studies, ALYFTREK ® demonstrated the potential for even better outcomes for patients than KAFTRIO ® (ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor). We're pleased to have reached this agreement with NHS England that recognises the value that this new medicine brings to CF patients, their families and society.' Following the European regulatory approval, eligible patients in Ireland, Denmark and Germany will be the first ones to access deutivacaftor/tezacaftor/vanzacaftor in the European Union. Vertex will continue to work with reimbursement bodies across the European Union member states to ensure access for all eligible patients as quickly as possible. About Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease affecting more than 109,000 people, including 94,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia. CF is a progressive, multi-organ disease that affects the lungs, liver, pancreas, GI tract, sinuses, sweat glands, and reproductive tract. CF is caused by a defective and/or missing CFTR protein resulting from certain mutations in the CFTR gene. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes — one from each parent — to have CF, and these mutations can be identified by a genetic test. While there are many different types of CFTR mutations that can cause the disease, the vast majority of people with CF have at least one F508del mutation. CFTR mutations lead to CF by causing CFTR protein to be defective or by leading to a shortage or absence of CFTR protein at the cell surface. The defective function and/or absence of CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cells in a number of organs. In the lungs, this leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus, chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage that eventually leads to death for many patients. The median age of death is in the 30s, but with treatment, projected survival is improving. Today Vertex CF medicines are treating over 75,000 people with CF in more than 60 countries on six continents. This represents approximately 2/3 of the diagnosed people with CF eligible for CFTR modulator therapy. About ALYFTREK ® (deutivacaftor/tezacaftor/vanzacaftor) In people with CF, mutations in the CFTR gene lead to decreased quantity and/or function of the CFTR protein channel at the cell surface. Vanzacaftor and tezacaftor are designed to increase the amount of CFTR protein at the cell surface by facilitating the processing and trafficking of the CFTR protein. Deutivacaftor is a potentiator designed to increase the channel open probability of the CFTR protein delivered to the cell surface to improve the flow of salt and water across the cell membrane. About Vertex Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and acute pain, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 15 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements made by Ludovic Fenaux in this press release and statements regarding the expectations for the potential benefits of ALYFTREK, expectations for patient access to deutivacaftor/tezacaftor/vanzacaftor, and Vertex's continued work with reimbursement bodies across the EU member states to ensure access for all eligible patients as quickly as possible. While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that data from the company's development programs may not support registration or further development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy or other reasons, and other risks listed under the heading 'Risk Factors' in Vertex's annual report and in subsequent filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available through the company's website at and You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available.
