European City Dwellers at Risk: Rising Temperatures Threaten Their Health

The European Environment Agency has revealed that nearly half of the schools and hospitals in European cities are located within what are known as "urban heat islands," putting vulnerable populations at risk of health-threatening temperatures as the impacts of climate change worsen. The agency stated in an analysis released today, Wednesday, on how Europe can adapt to deal with climate change, that about 46% of hospitals and 43% of schools are situated in areas that are at least two degrees Celsius warmer than their surroundings, leading to more severe consequences from heat waves compared to rural areas. This is due to the effect of urban heat islands, where dense clusters of buildings and infrastructure like roads absorb and retain more heat than green spaces. Climate change, driven by the continued burning of fossil fuels in industry, is causing heat waves to become hotter and more frequent. This trend, combined with the phenomenon of urban heat islands, poses risks including increased deaths from heat stress among the most vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. The agency urged governments to take measures to mitigate the effects of heat islands in cities, such as increasing green spaces and water bodies.