Over 20,000 people died due to heatwaves in Western Europe in 2021

Scientists have analysed the number of excess deaths (difference between nr of deaths that happened and those expected based on historical trends) in a number of countries in Western Europe to show the impact of climate change-induced global heating.

During the summer heatwaves temperatures exceeded 40C (104F) in London, areas in south-west France reached 42C and Seville and Córdoba in Spain set records of 44C. Analysis from the World Weather Attribution group of scientists found that such high temperatures would have been “virtually impossible” without the climate crisis.

• In England and Wales, 3,271 excess deaths were recorded

• In France, there were 10,420 excess deaths reported. One in four of these deaths, or 2,816, happened during one of the three intense heatwaves that hit the country.

• In Spain, the state-backed Carlos III Health Institute estimates 4,655 heat-attributable deaths

• The Robert Koch Institute, the German government health agency, estimates 4,500 people died in the country during the summer months specifically due to extreme temperatures.