(June 26, 2026)

Heatwaves pose a serious threat to human health and have profound impacts on ecosystems. During the summer of 2022, more than 60,000 people across Europe died as a result of extreme heat. Even in the following summer, which was significantly cooler, over 47,000 heat-related deaths were recorded (Gallo et al., 2024). Last year, the first heatwave in Europe, also hitting at the end of June, cost an estimated 2,300 people their lives in only 12 European cities (Grantham Institute, 2025).