Climate change was responsible for 1,700 heat-related deaths in the Swiss canton of Zurich between 1969 and 2018, representing nearly one-third of all heat-related mortality in the region during that period.
The study, conducted by the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, found that climate change increased deaths not only during extreme heat waves but also on milder days when temperatures exceeded local health thresholds.
Despite some resilience measures preventing an estimated 700 deaths since 2004, the number of heat-related deaths has continued to rise as global temperatures increase.
The research highlights the importance of rapid emission reductions to prevent future heat-related mortality and notes that many of these deaths occur outside of heat waves due to rising baseline temperatures.
Additionally, large global emitters have contributed to these deaths, with at least one additional death per summer in Zurich since 2004 attributable to emissions from the six highest-emitting companies.
This study was cited by the European Court of Human Rights in a landmark case highlighting the insufficiency of current adaptation measures alone and the urgent need for emission reductions under human rights obligations.
Older populations and women are particularly affected by heat-related mortality linked to climate change, as supported by broader European research on heat deaths.
This research emphasizes climate change’s significant and ongoing role in increasing heat-related mortality in Europe, underscoring the critical need for stronger mitigation and adaptation strategies.