New research published in the journal Nature Health estimates that more than 50,000 people died prematurely from heat across 854 European cities in the summer of 2026, with 32,619 deaths attributable to human-induced climate change.
Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said:
“If 50,000 people died in a single disaster, Europe would declare an emergency. Because these deaths are spread across a summer, right-wing politicians too often treat them as background noise. These people should still be alive. Europe must prepare now for the next summers and protect people before the next heatwave hits.”
Vula Tsetsi, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said:
“The conservative and far-right backlash against climate policies must stop. Their dismantling of the Green Deal is weakening the few protections people in Europe have against deadly heat. Europe needs to implement its climate commitments faster, prepare our cities and rural areas for extreme weather and ensure that people can afford to keep their homes cool. Protecting people, cutting energy bills and strengthening Europe's energy security must go hand in hand.”
On 11-13 December the European Greens Congress in Warsaw will discuss practical solutions with mayors, ministers and former minister, including a debate on heatwaves and energy poverty and discussions on European security. The Congress will focus on how Europe can better protect people, strengthen its resilience and energy security, and tackle both the cost of living, and the cost of climate inaction.
Background
The new figures come from research by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, published in Nature Health. The study estimates heat-related deaths across 854 cities in 30 countries, representing around 40% of the population in the countries studied. The estimated death toll is 71% higher than the previous record in 2022.
