The World Health Organization has warned that the European Region could face more deadly weeks of extreme heat, as a new heatwave is already building over the Atlantic.
The latest Europe heatwave warning comes as Portugal and southern Spain could reach 43°C this week, France and the Benelux countries are preparing for another heat surge and parts of central Asia are already experiencing temperatures of around 40°C, according to a WHO statement issued by WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge.
Because of the urgency of the situation, WHO convened an emergency meeting on extreme heat on 6 July, bringing together representatives from 41 WHO European Region Member States, the European Commission and several civil society organisations. More than 130 participants, according to WHO, showed that countries are increasingly treating extreme heat as a public health crisis, not just a weather event.
Heat is no longer an exception
In an earlier statement Kluge warned that the European Region is warming at more than twice the global average. Heatwaves, he said, are no longer rare and exceptional events, but recurring crises that are becoming more frequent, stronger and longer-lasting.
Health systems in several countries have already come under pressure during the current heat. In France, emergency medical calls rose by up to 50 percent in some cities, while London recorded the highest number of life-threatening emergency calls to the ambulance service in a single day.
Spain’s mortality monitoring system estimated more than 300 heat-associated deaths in just a few days, while Italy reported five deaths in 24 hours.
WHO warns that every summer in which countries fail to prepare for extreme heat carries a real cost in human lives.
Plans that save lives
The Europe heatwave warning also underlines the importance of heat-health action plans, which WHO says helped countries respond faster, coordinate services more effectively and better protect their populations.
Such plans link meteorological early warnings to public health responses, health service preparedness, outreach to groups at increased risk and coordination between health, social care, occupational health, housing and urban planning authorities.
Kluge stressed that countries with well-functioning plans know in advance who is responsible for what, which population groups are most at risk and at which temperature threshold each level of response is activated. That clarity before a heatwave arrives, WHO says, can make the difference between an organised response and a delayed reaction.
WHO highlighted several examples of good practice. Italy has a mortality surveillance system active in 45 cities, which can provide decision-makers with near real-time data during a crisis. Spain worked directly with the media to improve communication of heat-health risks to the public.
Austria activated its updated plan, introduced workplace heat-protection measures and connected national and regional coordination structures. Belgium triggered its highest alert phase for only the second time since 2020, France showed how cross-sector coordination can reduce pressure on the health system, and North Macedonia worked with Red Cross and Red Crescent teams to reach people without permanent housing.
“These examples matter because they are replicable,” Kluge said in the WHO statement, stressing that the tools exist and that plans, when put in place and tested before a crisis, save lives.
Lack of preparedness remains the biggest problem
Despite the positive examples, WHO warns that not even half of the Member States in the European Region have a national heat-health action plan in place.
Countries identified several problems, including the fact that many people do not recognise their personal risk even when the highest alert level is activated. They also pointed to the need for more cooling facilities, better public awareness of where they are located, especially for homeless people, and the need to make health-care infrastructure more resilient to climate risks.
Some countries still face administrative delays in formally declaring heatwaves, which can slow down the public health response. WHO also warns that long-term care residents, homeless people and socially isolated older adults are still not being reached consistently enough.
What the Europe heatwave warning means for cities and citizens
In the earlier statement, Kluge also listed practical measures that can help people during periods of extreme heat. Those without air conditioning are advised to keep blinds and curtains closed during the day, open windows at night when temperatures drop, drink water before feeling thirsty, avoid sugary, alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, stay out of the midday sun and check on older neighbours and relatives.
He especially warned that a simple phone call can save a life. Around 60 percent of hospital admissions after emergency visits during the current heatwave involved people aged 75 and older, and many of those admissions could have been prevented.
Cities and countries are already introducing concrete measures. Barcelona has expanded its network of climate shelters to more than 500 spaces this summer, including libraries, civic centres, parks and pharmacies. Paris activated its welfare-check register for older and vulnerable residents and restricted public alcohol sales to reduce pressure on emergency services. Italy introduced restrictions on outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day in some regions, with arrangements allowing workers not to lose income as a result.
Europe heatwave warning highlights urgent action
WHO/Europe will share lessons from the emergency meeting with all 53 Member States and continue providing technical support to countries looking to strengthen their response to extreme heat.
The Europe heatwave warning has also highlighted the growing need for closer cooperation between emergency services, health authorities, urban planners and governments. According to WHO, the priority now is twofold: fix the weaknesses exposed by recent heatwaves before the next one arrives, and build health systems that are prepared for extreme heat rather than simply reacting to it.
“The heat is here. The solutions exist. The window to act is now,” Kluge said.
No heatwave warning for Croatia yet
Despite the wider Europe heatwave warning, Croatia’s State Hydrometeorological Institute has not yet issued a heatwave warning for Croatia.
Croatia’s previous heatwave, which affected the country in the second half of June, brought some of the hottest June days recorded in Croatia, followed by dangerous storms and wildfires.
