A study projects a sobering scenario in which a 4-degree increase in global temperatures by 2099 could result in the deaths of up to 1.2 million people in 81 European cities. The report highlights that 70% of these deaths could be prevented with swift actions to address climate change.
Southern European cities are expected to be the most affected by this temperature increase, with Italy and Spain in a particularly vulnerable position. Cities like Rome, Naples, and Milan in Italy, and Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia in Spain are among the most impacted, according to projections.
Of all the cities analyzed, Barcelona would be the hardest hit, with estimates of 246,082 deaths related to extreme temperatures by the end of the century. Madrid and Valencia also face concerning figures, with 129,716 and 67,519 projected deaths respectively due to climate-related mortality.
The study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine warns about the significant impact that the temperature increase caused by climate change would have on mortality across Europe if urgent measures are not taken to mitigate global warming. It warns that up to 2.3 million deaths could occur in 854 European cities before the end of this century if action is not taken.
