If in Europe, you are most likely to die of a heatwave in Paris

Paris, the French capital, has been identified as particularly at risk during heatwaves, making it the deadliest city in Europe, according to a study by The Lancet Planetary Health. In other words, Parisians face the highest risk of dying from heat-related causes.

The paper is based on a comprehensive analysis that examined various factors, such as geographical differences and age-specific risks, influencing mortality rates due to extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold.

Paris, out of 854 European cities, is where the risk of dying from heat is the highest, according to a study published by The Lancet Planetary Health. pic.twitter.com/EsynlSL3ZJ

— Tariq KRIM (@tariqkrim) June 18, 2023

What makes Paris so hot?

• The situation in Paris can be attributed to two primary factors: inadequate urbanization strategies and the vulnerability of its population due to various factors.

• According to the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), the summer of 2022 in France witnessed three consecutive severe heatwaves, which led to an estimated 11,000 deaths.

• In comparison to other cities, Paris faces a 1.6 times higher risk of excess mortality among senior individuals aged 85 and older, as reported by INSEE.

• During the deadly heatwave of 2003, the Paris Region Institute observed temperature differences of up to 10°C.

Remember the European heat wave of 2003? (I happened to be living in Europe that summer.) The number of “excess deaths” were at least 15,000 in Paris alone; a total of 22,000 in France: https://t.co/cBAPFF3CGZ pic.twitter.com/mE1Z7B5G0p

— NOfP (@NOfPPlus) May 13, 2023

• The city planning and infrastructure of Paris are to be blamed, to some extent, as they are ill-equipped to handle extreme heat fluctuations, exacerbating the impact of rising temperatures.
• Additionally, factors such as the age distribution and health conditions of the population further increase the susceptibility to heat-related health issues.
• In Paris, heatwaves have also become more frequent and severe.
• Another factor contributing to the high temperatures is the overuse of zinc, a metal that absorbs heat, in roof construction.
• The temperate city is affected by the urban heat island phenomenon, leading to significant temperature disparities between the city and its rural surroundings.

What is an urban heat island?

• Urban heat islands are local and temporary phenomena in which certain pockets within a city experience higher heat(3 to 5 degrees Celsius approx) than its surrounding area due to the abundance of concrete and limited green spaces.

Other findings

• Paris is followed by Amsterdam and Zagreb, on the list of cities with the highest risk of heat-related deaths.
• According to the study, London emerged as the city with the highest risk of cold-related deaths.

Methodology of the study

• The researchers studied data from 854 European cities between December 31, 2019, and January 1, 2000.
• They collected information from sources such as weather reports, demographic statistics of adults aged 20 and above, socio-economic indicators, topographical data, and environmental factors.
• Data was obtained from organizations like Eurostat, Copernicus (the European climate monitoring organization), the Multi-city Collaborative Research Network (MCC), and the NASA satellite network.

Scientists have been cautioning that things will only become worse if people and governments don't take immediate action. Hopefully, a better understanding of these factors can help policymakers and urban planners take appropriate measures to mitigate the impact of extreme temperatures and protect the health and well-being of residents.