Impacts of heat on health: over half EEA countries monitor and take action on heat and health

The EEA briefing 'Impacts of heat on health' gives a first EEA state of play on national surveillance for heat-related health impacts. In terms of preparedness, 21 EEA member countries have heat-health action plans in place, and another four National Public Health Institutes are developing such plans.

However, progress is limited to southern and western European member countries. Several countries in central and eastern Europe currently do not have a surveillance system or heat-health action plan in place. The EEA briefing draws on a survey National Public Health Institutes participated in for the European Climate and Health Observatory.

The impacts of heat on health: surveillance and preparedness in Europe

Monitoring heat impacts on health is key

As many as 95% of the fatalities associated with weather and climate-related extremes recorded in Europe between 1980 and 2023 were linked to heatwaves and extremely high temperatures are projected to increase in frequency in the future. Unless adaptive actions are taken, higher temperatures under a changing climate are likely to lead to more severe impacts on an ageing European society

High temperatures cause heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and complications from pre-existing medical conditions, in some cases leading to premature death. Elderly people, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, people suffering from cardiovascular, respiratory or renal diseases, diabetes or mental health disorders and marginalised and under-resourced people are among the most vulnerable.

The briefing explains the key importance of monitoring heat-related deaths and health impacts as a basis for planning actions preventing such impacts, especially amongst the most vulnerable groups.

Monitoring, planning and action

The briefing explains that deploying emergency response measures during extreme weather events and having long-term adaptation actions in place is crucial to reduce heat-related deaths and illnesses. Accurate and timely data on the health impacts of heat is also critical for designing and implementing these measures.

In addition to collecting data on deaths, it is essential to collect data on heat-related health impacts, such as dehydration, hyperthermia, or worsening of symptoms of existing diseases. This data allows for the full scope of the health impacts of heat to be understood and enables targeted measures to be deployed to counteract them, according to the briefing. Further, information about the number of heat-related deaths and health effects allows assessment of whether the preventative measures used have been effective in reducing impacts. Proper surveillance and data collection can also help in developing heat mortality forecasting and putting in place early warning systems.