The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health has released an open letter urging action against the escalating health crisis in Europe and Central Asia that is stemming from climate change.

Europe is the fastest-warming region in the world, warming up twice as fast as the global average. While 2024 was the hottest year on record for continental Europe, 2025 is already on its way to surpassing it. T emperatures rose above 30 ˚C for an unprecedented 22 days in Scandinavia, while Spain and Portugal experienced heat exceeding 46 ˚C in June.

Such temperature rises have had a deleterious impact on health; data show that heat-related mortality has increased by more than 30% in the last two decades in Europe. This trend is showing no signs of slowing down. An analysis by Imperial College London , London, England, reported that 1500 of the 2300 heat deaths in the week between June 23 and July 2, 2025, were a direct result of climate change-related temperature rises of 1-4 °C.

Excess heat can exacerbate underlying health issues like c ardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health conditions, and asthma and increase the risk for accidents and the transmission of some infectious diseases. Older people, young children, and pregnant women are at particular risk.