European cities are increasingly exposed to heat-related mortality despite advances

Mortality rates associated with high temperatures in European cities have risen significantly between 2015 and 2024 when compared to the 1991-2000 period. This trend persists despite ongoing urban efforts to increase green spaces and reduce heat absorption, with the southern region of Europe experiencing a particularly sharp increase of 160.6 percent.

In Spain specifically, heat-related deaths have surged by 95.4 percent over the same timeframe. Experts note that the expansion of urban tree canopy in these areas remains insufficient, failing to meet international recommendations designed to mitigate the impact of rising temperatures on public health.