Climate change drives record heat and infectious disease risks

The summer of 2026 has been recorded as one of the hottest in modern climatological history, with data from Lamma indicating that all previous records for average, minimum, and maximum temperatures were broken. This extreme heat has been accompanied by anomalies in mortality rates across Europe, with official data from the World Health Organization pending validation.

In Sorrento, experts held a conference to discuss the direct link between rising global temperatures and the proliferation of infectious diseases. The discussion focused on how climate extremes alter ecosystems, creating ideal conditions for disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies to expand into previously safe areas, potentially spreading illnesses like Dengue and West Nile virus.

Legambiente has called for urgent political action regarding climate adaptation and mitigation. The association criticized the lack of sufficient structural funding for the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and highlighted the need for a faster energy transition to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.