A recent study published in PLOS Medicine has found that heatwaves are linked to more than 150,000 deaths per year in 43 countries across five continents. Lead author Yuming Guo and his team from Monash University analyzed data from 1990 to 2019 and discovered that heatwaves claimed the lives of 153,078 people annually, accounting for 1% of global deaths.

The study highlighted that the global warming trend is accelerating, with 19 of the 20 hottest years since 1880 occurring after 2000. The authors emphasized the need for international cooperation to develop specific adaptation strategies to reduce heatwave vulnerability worldwide.

The research revealed major clusters of heatwave-related excess deaths in Eastern and Southern Asia, Eastern and Southern Europe, and areas near the Gulf of Guinea in Africa. Despite Asia reporting the highest number of heatwave deaths, Europe had the highest death rate at 655 deaths for every ten million residents.

One significant limitation of the study was the lack of daily death data from South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. The World Health Organization survey also indicated that only half of the 101 countries surveyed had nationwide plans for health and climate change, with only four countries having adequate funds to implement these plans.

The authors stressed the importance of government actions to enhance health sector adaptation and resilience, considering inequalities across communities. With the global surface temperature expected to increase further in the coming years, it is crucial for intergovernmental actions to prioritize building adaptation and resilience to address the growing threat of heatwaves.