Climate change is no longer just an environmental threat.
It is also an increasingly serious threat to human health, with extreme temperatures linked to thousands of deaths, increased risks to vulnerable citizens and significant impacts on the functioning of health systems.
More than 30,000 additional deaths are estimated to have been recorded in Europe during the summer of 2026, while the economic impact of extreme climate events is estimated at billions of euros.
At the same time, scientists warn that Europe still does not have a sufficiently binding and funded framework for protecting public health from the effects of climate change.
Against this background, 1,240 health and care professionals, as well as other experts from 28 European countries, are sending an open letter to the European Parliament and the European Commission, calling for concrete political decisions, binding legislation and adequate funding.
The initiative is coordinated by the European regional hub of the Planetary Health Alliance, in which the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII) of the Cyprus University of Technology participates as a Core Partner.
The letter is addressed to the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, the members of the House, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commissioners, at a time when the debate on the new European climate resilience framework is ongoing.
The message of the signatories is clear: Europe is not devoid of plans. What is required is political commitment, specific obligations and the necessary resources for their implementation.
Thousands of deaths, millions of people at risk
The data listed in the letter reflect the magnitude of the threat.
According to preliminary estimates cited by its authors, more than 30,000 additional deaths were recorded in Europe during the summer of 2026, with nearly 16,000 occurring in the last week of June alone.
At the same time, the press release of the International Institute of Cyprus provides preliminary data, which are attributed to the European Commission and speak of more than 35,000 deaths related to high temperatures in European countries for which data were available.
The two estimates come from different reports and are not identical statistics.
The findings of the Lancet Countdown report for Europe in 2026 are also particularly worrying. According to the report, as presented in the two documents, 99.6% of the 823 European regions monitored recorded an increase in heat-related mortality during the period 2015–2024, compared to the period 1991–2000.
The impact, however, is not evenly distributed among the population.
The elderly, people with chronic diseases, outdoor workers and those living alone in overheated homes are among the groups most at risk.
As the letter points out, the likelihood of losing one's life due to extreme heat is not only linked to one's age and health status, but also to one's income, profession and housing conditions.
Binding temperature limits at work
One of the most important demands concerns the protection of workers from high temperatures.
The signatories point out that the current European legislation provides for general protection obligations for employers, but without the specific binding framework they consider necessary to deal with the risks of heat.
For this reason, they are calling for the adoption of a European directive on the prevention of occupational risks associated with high temperatures.
The proposed directive, according to the letter, should provide for binding temperature limits, adapted to the conditions of each region, automatic restrictions on work when conditions become dangerous and common European risk assessment rules.
Arrangements for the compensation and protection of seasonal and mobile workers, as well as those employed through digital platforms, are also requested.
Safe temperatures inside homes as well
Protection against climate change, according to the signatories, cannot be limited to the workplace.
Particular emphasis is placed on the living conditions of vulnerable citizens, with a request to ensure safe indoor temperatures, especially for the elderly, the chronically ill and people living in homes without adequate cooling systems.
In this context, it is proposed to extend the energy upgrade measures to existing buildings, to strengthen passive cooling and to adapt the electricity networks to the increased needs of the summer.
The letter also highlights the social dimension of the problem, underlining that citizens with limited financial resources often have fewer possibilities to protect themselves from extreme temperatures.
Hospitals ready for the new threats
An important part of the proposals concerns the adaptation of the health systems themselves to the new climatic conditions.
The signatories call for the creation of a European Heat and Health Action Plan, accompanied by a dedicated funding fund to strengthen the resilience of hospitals, care services, schools and nurseries.
At the same time, they propose the development of integrated early warning systems in all member states, both for heatwaves and for smoke from forest fires.
Healthcare professionals are making commitments themselves, stating that they will work to develop extreme temperature response plans, protect staff and patients, and adapt health facilities.
Particular priority should be given to the elderly living alone, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, infants and those who face increased risk due to their working or living conditions.
Economic losses of billions
In addition to the impact on human health, the letter also records the economic cost of extreme climate events.
According to an analysis cited by its authors, extreme heat and forest fires are estimated to have affected the European Union's gross domestic product by about 1% in 2026, which corresponds to about 180 billion euros.
A separate analysis by Allianz Research estimates productivity losses in 30 European countries at 113 billion euros during the most intense five-day heat wave of the summer.
The two estimates relate to different economic impacts and are not amounts that can be added together.
The authors of the letter stress, however, that these economic assessments do not fully reflect the real costs, as they do not include mortality, disease, long-term damage to health and effects on quality of life.
Pressure on the EU for legislative decisions
The initiative comes at a critical time for the formulation of European climate resilience policy.
According to the press release of the International Cyprus Institute, the European Commission presented on October 27 a proposal for a European law on climate resilience.
The signatories call for the new framework not to be limited to general guidelines and recommendations, but to include legally binding obligations, specific targets and measurable results for health protection.
Their demands include the recognition of extreme heat as a serious cross-border threat to public health.
The open letter builds on the European Declaration on Climate and Health, which was adopted by 129 organisations in August 2026.
The 1,240 signatures from 28 countries were collected by November 1, while the process remains open.
The European Secretariat of the Global Health Alliance forwarded the letter to Members of the European Parliament on 4 November, with its formal submission to the European Parliament and the European Commission scheduled for 10 December, ahead of the Environment Council meeting on 11 December.
The main demand of health professionals is the transition from announcements to the implementation of measures, with specific obligations and available resources, so that the protection of citizens from the effects of climate change becomes an essential priority of the European Union.
