According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), if nothing is done to combat climate change, heatwaves might be responsible for the deaths of 90,000 people annually in Europe by 2100.
Without adaptation efforts, and under a scenario of global warming of 3 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, around 90,000 individuals in Europe might die from excessive heat each year.
This number drops to 30,000 fatalities per year if the global temperature rises by 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Failure to Limit Global Warming
According to a Phys.org article, countries have committed to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Nevertheless, this target is likely going to be missed, given the present trends in emission levels.
EEA gathered figures from insurance companies, which led them to conclude that there were about 129,000 fatalities in Europe due to excessive heat between the years 1980 and 2020.
However, increasingly frequent heatwaves caused by climate change, an aging generation, and growing urbanization have made it probable that this number will climb in the future years, particularly in the southern part of the continent, based on the report.
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that the hot weather in Europe has been responsible for the deaths of at least 15,000 people so far this year.
Extreme heat in Europe during the summer months of June, July, and August caused the continent to experience its worst drought since the Middle Ages. This includes the recorded 1,700 deaths on the Iberian peninsula alone in July.
Other Health Risks Presented by Heat
In addition to the risk posed by heat, the EEA warned that climate change might render Europe more susceptible to infectious illnesses transmitted by mosquito bites, such as malaria and dengue fever.
Moreover, as the oceans continue to warm, the conditions in which the bacteria responsible for cholera thrive are improving. This is especially true along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.
Call to Action
Because of these, the EEA is pushing everyone, whether people or entities, to take action.
The organization said almost all fatalities connected with hot temperatures are avoidable in Europe.
And in order to reduce the health consequences of heat, the mainland needs to adopt a wide variety of measures such as adequate heat health action plans, urban greening, suitable building design and construction, and changing working schedules and conditions to avoid the hot weather.
US Gaming Industry's Stand Against Climate Change
In the US, huge gaming companies are addressing environmental challenges.
Microsoft's "carbon net zero" program began in 2012. It vowed to become "carbon net zero" by 2030 after realizing environmental protection is essential. It also claimed it would eradicate all carbon emissions from its 1975 establishment by 2050.
Sony's facilities will be carbon neutral by 2030. It transitioned its data centers to renewable energy whenever feasible, with its Europe and US headquarters already utilizing 100% renewable energy.
Supercell, Wild Works, Ubisoft, and others have pledged to lessen their carbon impact.
Read Also : Plan A Offers Platform For Companies to Stay Away From Greenwashing About Climate Change
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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada
