Deaths that could avoid, if only the necessary decisions had taken when the alarming data were already there. But no: the heat wave that affected Europe between 23 June and 2 July last made the number of deaths registered in twelve cities of the old continent triple.
This was confirmed by a study by the Imperial College of London, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Bern, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and the University of Copenhagen, according to which 65%, about 1,500 of 2,300, of the deaths recorded in those days are the result of climate change due to the use of fossil fuels and which has increased the temperatures of the wave up to 4 ° C in all cities.
The most alarming figure concerns the city of Milan, where 499 deaths were recorded in just ten days: of these, 317 are directly attributable to the climatic crisis. No other European city has reported such a high number.
For the rest, in Italy, there are:
THE’Italy is therefore among the most affected European countries (The study examined only these three Italian cities) and the data are based on the calculation of excess mortality, that is, on the difference between the deaths observed and those expected in normal conditions.
The deaths in Europe
According to scientists, at European level the heat wave caused 2,300 deadof which 1,500 – 65% – attributable directly to the climatic crisis. Global warming, explain the researchers, he tripled the victims compared to a summer with normal temperatures.
These numbers, however dramatic, represent only a part of the real impact: the study analyzed 12 European cities and the authors warn that the overall deaths related to the heat wave could reach Tens of thousands.
Overall, climate change would be responsible as well as the most estimated deaths a Milanwhich has the absolute primacy, of 286 a Barcelona235 a Paris171 a London164 a Rome108 a Madrid96 ad Athens47 a Budapest31 a Zagreb21 a Frankfurt21 a Lisbon and 6 a Sassari.
A real “silent killer“Because it leaves no obvious signs like a flood or a fire, but acts invisible and constantly. As Ben Clarke, an Imperial College scientist: explains:
The heat waves do not leave a trail of destruction such as fire or storms. Their impact is mostly invisible, but silently devastating: a variation of only 2 or 3 ° C can make the difference between life and death for thousands of people.
The most exposed victims are the over 65, which represent 88% of the deaths recorded, due to pre -existing conditions such as heart problems, diabetes and respiratory pathologies.
The study is part of the so -called “attribution science”, which analyzes how extreme events such as heat waves have been made more likely or intense by climate change. In this case, the correlation is clear: without global warming, many of these deaths would not have been.
In the meantime, some Italian European cities are trying to adapt: mitigation strategies such as climatic shelters and the expansion of green areas are experienced to reduce the heat island effect. But the urgency is evident: The cities must prepare to face an atmosphere that does not forgive and what has been done (and struggled) in the past makes us run more risks.
In many Italian cities it has continued and continues to build and reduce the amount of soil that could help the city to fight the consequences of climate change. It follows that the Management of our territoriescombined with the increasingly evident effects of climate changeis increasing the frequency of extreme heat and tragedies. And, if you don’t change your step, the overall situation can only worsen.
