3rd CLIMACT Seminar Series - Episode #11

The increasing frequency of heatwaves under climate change represents a global crisis. Extreme heatwaves now increasingly occur in places that did not experience such extremes in the past. This crisis could be mitigated by advance prediction and ample warnings, since the time for countries, cities and municipalities to prepare for heatwaves is often longer than the current warning timescale for heatwaves. Indeed, there is potential for issuing heat warnings beyond currently used warning timescales, since heatwaves are the most predictable extreme weather events, with predictable lead times of several weeks in advance.

This presentation will focus on the potential of heatwave prediction and warnings on timescales of days to weeks, including an evaluation of the benefits of such warnings for human lives and livelihoods in the framework of the “HEATaware” project.

Heat is considered the deadliest climate-related hazard in developed countries, responsible for more than 20 deaths per 100,000 people in Europe. Additionally, heat is associated with an increased risk of hospitalizations due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, among others. Substantial research and policy efforts have been invested to better understand mechanisms and vulnerabilities from heat exposure and develop. Despite that, heat continues to pose a significant health risk, with a substantial health burden attributed to it in every region of the world.

The talk will cover the latest research on the impact of heat on human health in terms of large geographical assessments, differential vulnerability, and attribution of heat-health impacts to climate change.