Urban centers face rising health risks from extreme heat

European cities are facing increasing challenges from extreme heat as temperatures continue to break records. A report by the Lancet Countdown, involving 58 researchers, indicates that climate risks to urban health are growing unevenly across more than 850 European cities. The study highlights that Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, and current adaptation measures are deemed insufficient.

In Spain, heat-related deaths have increased more than the European average. The report notes that high population density in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia exacerbates health risks, particularly where there is a lack of green spaces and sustainable mobility.

Mayors from cities such as Paris, Milan, and Phoenix are discussing how to protect vulnerable residents and redesign urban environments. Phoenix, which has managed extreme heat for decades, serves as a model for European cities through its dedicated municipal office for heat response and mitigation. Leaders emphasize that heat must be treated as a systemic issue affecting transport, housing, and public health rather than just a weather phenomenon.