Europe Falls Short in Heatwave Preparedness, WHO Cautions

The upcoming heatwave is gathering strength over the Atlantic. Forecasts predict temperatures will hit 43 °C in Portugal and southern Spain this week, while France and the Benelux region prepare for another surge. Central Asia is also seeing temperatures around 40 °C.

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Europe is ill‑prepared, World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge warned in a Tuesday statement.

Kluge noted that fewer than half of the countries in the European Region have established plans to manage heat‑related health risks, known as national Heat‑Health Action Plans.

The WHO Europe chief emphasized that every country should adopt such plans, encompassing meteorological early warnings, targeted outreach to vulnerable populations, and coordination among health, occupational health, social care, housing, and urban planning authorities.

Kluge explained that well‑functioning plans identify responsible authorities, pinpoint the most vulnerable populations, and define temperature thresholds that trigger each response level. Having this clarity before a heatwave arrives makes a life‑saving difference between a proactive and a reactive approach.

‘The work now focuses on two fronts,’ he said. ‘First, addressing what fell short in recent weeks before the next heatwave arrives, and second, building health systems that are prepared for extreme heat rather than merely reacting to it.’

Preliminary data from Western Europe indicate over 4,000 excess deaths linked to soaring June temperatures that strained health systems.

To prevent a repeat, Kluge convened an emergency meeting on extreme heat, bringing together representatives from 41 European countries, the European Commission, and civil‑society groups to examine lessons from the previous heatwave.

The WHO Europe director highlighted initiatives such as Italy’s mortality surveillance system, Spain’s media communication strategy, and Austria’s updated heat plan.

‘These examples matter because they are replicable,’ Kluge said, emphasizing that tools are available. ‘When plans are in place and tested before a crisis, they save lives,’ he added.

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