WHO Sees Current European Heatwave as Dress Rehearsal for Coming Summers

The WHO pointed out that health systems are increasingly reaching their limits under the strain. Emergency services are currently reporting record numbers of operations, according to the WHO. Kluge emphasized that the current situation is "erst der Anfang" and that preparations must be made for future summers.

Situation in Europe

The WHO sees a central problem in the lack of preparedness. "Mehr als die Hälfte der europäischen Länder verfügt bislang noch immer nicht über einen umfassenden Hitzeaktionsplan", said Kluge. Such plans could save lives together with early warning systems, cool spaces, and targeted support for vulnerable people.

As a positive example, the WHO cited the Spanish city of Barcelona. There, the network of climate shelters has been expanded to more than 500 locations. Kluge said: "Das sind nur wenige Beispiele für praktische und gut umsetzbare Maßnahmen" and demanded: "Jede Stadt in Europa sollte über vergleichbare Konzepte verfügen."

WHO Demands

The WHO emphasized that older people, the chronically ill, and people in precarious housing situations are particularly at risk from extreme heat. Children and pregnant women are also among the risk groups. The organization called on governments, cities, and health institutions to revise their heat action plans and implement them over the long term.

In recent years, UN organizations and climate researchers had already pointed out that heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent and intensify due to climate change. The WHO renewed this warning and combined it with concrete demands for investment in prevention and public health.

The heatwave had caused temperatures well above the seasonal norm for days across large parts of Europe, as the WHO noted at the outset: "Tagelang ächzte Europa unter Extremhitze." Meteorological services had previously already reported several regional heat records.

Outlook and Appeals

The organization announced that it would intensify the exchange between European countries on heat preparedness and adaptation strategies. Kluge pointed out that many of the necessary measures are known and proven – what is often lacking, however, is political priority and long-term financing.

The WHO stressed that coping with the coming hot summers is not solely a task for the health sector, but concerns urban planning, social policy, and civil protection equally. Kluge called for coordinated action to significantly reduce the number of heat-related deaths in Europe.

With a view to the coming weeks and months, the WHO called on the population to take warning notices seriously, drink plenty of fluids, seek out cool rooms, and support vulnerable people in their surroundings. The current heatwave, Kluge said, is simultaneously an opportunity and a warning to prepare in good time for coming summers.

According to WHO assessment, the heatwave in Europe is continuing. A noticeable cooling is not expected in many places until later in the summer.

The WHO concluded by stating that it would continue to monitor the situation and publish further recommendations to member states in the coming weeks. It sees itself as obligated to support European countries in building health systems resilient to extreme heat.