The WHO estimates 175,000 heat-related deaths in the European region each year

Earlier this summer, the UN called for action against extreme heat in response to the deadly heatwaves that have caused an estimated 489,000 heat-related deaths worldwide each year in recent decades. According to the WHO, the WHO European Region accounts for an average of 36 % of these heat-related deaths, or more than 175,000 deaths per year, making heat stress the leading cause of climate-related deaths. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)