Europe is getting increasingly warmer: this summer, we’ve had five major heatwaves. Extreme heat killed at least 25,000 people in Western Europe alone, according to a recent Bloomberg analysis.
In Wallonia, Belgium, more deaths were recorded on June 28, the peak of June’s heatwave, than any given day at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Belgium was the country hardest hit during the month of June, together with France and Germany, according to data collected by the European Mortality Monitoring Network.
Approximately 80 million people across the continent faced temperatures of 40ºC and higher, often in places unadapted to such temperatures.
Over the past four years, extreme heat has killed more than 200,000 Europeans. Nearly all of those deaths were preventable, Europe’s regional director for the World Health Organization, Hans Kluge, stated in a speech this June.
Additionally, last month the European Union’s Disease Prevention Agency (ECDC) warned that prolonged periods of high temperatures are cultivating a breeding ground for foodborne diseases, mosquito-borne diseases and tick-borne diseases.
In a recent press release European Commission addressed various mitigation strategies.
“While the immediate focus is on responding to the emergencies with firefighting helicopters, electric fans and shallow water vessels, EU-funded research and innovation is also essential for addressing the longer-term challenge of a changing climate. Initiatives such as the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change and research projects develop the knowledge and solutions needed to strengthen society’s resilience in the years and decades ahead,” it stated.
The Commission looks set to focus on strengthening these four pillars.
Improving forecasting and early warnings
Better climate science and AI are helping cities and regions predict extreme heat, floods and wildfires earlier and at a more local level. New tools can map where heat is most intense, identify neighbourhoods and communities at greatest health risk, and give authorities more time to issue warnings and prepare emergency services. Projects such as HealthRiskADAPT, MountResilience and AURORA are combining detailed climate data, health information and machine learning to make early warnings more precise and actionable.
Helping local authorities to plan for climate risks
EU-funded research is also helping cities and regions turn climate-risk information into practical adaptation plans. Projects including Impetus4Change and NEVERMORE are working with local authorities to identify vulnerable areas and populations and test solutions such as urban planning changes, building retrofits and drought-management strategies. Other research, such as MIRACA, look at how climate risks affect interconnected infrastructure and urban environments, helping authorities plan for challenges such as heatwaves, drought and wildfires.
Using nature to reduce heat and wildfire risks
Restoring and protecting ecosystems can help communities adapt to extreme heat, drought and wildfires. Projects such as Trees4Adapt and DesirMED are testing nature-based approaches including reforestation, forest restoration and soil management. These measures can help landscapes retain moisture, regulate local temperatures and become more resilient to future climate extremes.
Protecting health during heatwaves
Climate adaptation research is increasingly focused on protecting people from the health effects of extreme heat. Projects such as ISMED-CLIM are testing practical measures including heat alerts, personalised advice and emergency plans for vulnerable groups, while MOUNTADAPT is examining how rising temperatures could affect cardiovascular, respiratory and mental health.
New EU-funded projects are also moving from research into implementation, testing ways to cool cities, protect vulnerable residents and scale successful measures across Europe.
Research and innovation in the EU is equipping communities across Europe with the knowledge, tools and effective solutions to adapt to the increasing occurrence of heatwaves, as part of the rapidly changing climate.
