The World Health Organization has urged Europe to strengthen protections for its citizens against extreme heat waves as the climate crisis accelerates, with the continent experiencing temperatures rising at a faster rate than any other region in the world.
The WHO's regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, said that more than 200,000 people across the region have died from heat-related causes in the past four years, and described heat waves as a "silent killer" whose effects could be prevented if Europe used the tools it already had.
Kluge presented updated guidelines on heat protection measures during a special event on dealing with heat waves in Berlin, with the participation of German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and Berlin Senator for Health Ina Czibora, with a focus on protecting the elderly and the most vulnerable groups.
Schneider said the effects of climate change are becoming tangible around the world, noting that protection from heat waves is also a social issue, as residents of densely populated urban areas and extremely hot housing struggle to protect themselves from high temperatures.
He added that reducing emissions and expanding green spaces within cities, such as trees, parks, rivers, forests and wetlands, can help reduce the effects of heat waves.
