Fact Check: 1,500 deaths during the heatwave were linked to climate change.

Fact Check: "1,500 deaths during the heatwave were linked to climate change."

What We Know

A recent study conducted by scientists from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated that approximately 1,500 deaths during a severe heatwave in Europe were linked to human-caused climate change. This analysis was part of a rapid assessment that aimed to quantify the impact of climate change on mortality during extreme weather events. The researchers focused on the hottest five-day stretch of the heatwave, which occurred from June 23 to July 2, 2025, across 12 European cities. They estimated that without the influence of climate change, the expected death toll would have been around 770 individuals, indicating that climate change effectively tripled the death toll to approximately 2,300 total estimated heat-related deaths (source-1, source-2).

Analysis

The study utilized historical temperature data and mortality trends to estimate excess deaths attributable to the heatwave. According to the authors, the extra warmth from climate change added between 2 to 4 degrees Celsius to the temperatures experienced during the heatwave, significantly increasing the risk of heat-related mortality (source-4).

The credibility of this study is bolstered by its use of peer-reviewed methodologies and the involvement of reputable institutions. However, it is important to note that the study is still in the process of peer review, which means that while the findings are based on solid scientific methods, they have not yet undergone the full scrutiny typical of academic publishing (source-7).

Critics of the study may point out that heat-related deaths are notoriously difficult to quantify accurately, as they often result from exacerbated underlying health conditions rather than direct causes (source-5). This complexity can lead to both underestimation and overestimation of actual death tolls. Nonetheless, the researchers assert that their estimates provide a solid indication of the magnitude of the impact of climate change on mortality during this heatwave (source-1).

Conclusion

The claim that 1,500 deaths during the heatwave were linked to climate change is True. The evidence from the rapid assessment study indicates a clear connection between the increased temperatures due to climate change and the elevated death toll during the heatwave. While there are inherent challenges in accurately measuring heat-related mortality, the methodologies employed in this study provide a credible estimate that aligns with the broader scientific understanding of climate change's impact on extreme weather events.

Fact Check: 1,500 deaths during the heatwave were linked to climate change.