Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD, has stated that a report emphasizing a rise in “extreme heat stress” days in Europe stands as a critical reminder for European governments. The report was released on Monday by the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service and World Meteorological Organisation pointing out that Europe is experiencing a growing number of days bearing at least “strong heat stress”. It also noted that there had been a record-breaking amount of “extreme heat stress” days in 2023.
The research revealed a surge in heat-related deaths by around 30% in the previous twenty years, while such deaths have seen an increase in 94% of the monitored European regions. Whitmore expressed that the massive growth in heat-related fatalities in Europe in the last two decades starkly exposes the grave implications of nations not fulfilling their climate action commitments.
The report also illustrated the impact of a marine heatwave classified as “extreme” and in places “beyond extreme” that hit the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland and throughout the United Kingdom in June. The sea surface temperatures were as much as five degrees above the normal, it noted.
Whitmore, acting as the spokesperson for climate and biodiversity for her party commented, “Today, as we commemorate Earth Day 2024, this report serves as another urgent reminder for European governments.”
A noteworthy recent legal case, led by a group known as ‘Swiss Grannies’ representing 2,400 elderly women, revolved around heat-related deaths. The group argued in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that older people have a higher risk of dying in heatwaves. Earlier this month, the court concluded that Swiss government’s inadequate climate policies have violated their human rights.
Whitmore added, “The ECHR judgement will subject nations across Europe, including Ireland, to legal scrutiny in national courts to achieve their climate action goals. Ireland, besides Switzerland, was one of the few countries that actually despatched a legal delegation to Strasbourg to contest the women’s claims.”
It’s clear that the current administration is likely to fall short of its climate-related goals, leading me to speculate that Minister Eamon Ryan’s goal was to avert any potential legal action targeting the State. However, Minister Ryan’s intervention in the Swiss judicial matter starkly contradicts his own Climate Action Plan, jeopardising efforts to hold governments responsible for their shortcomings in achieving targets.
Responding to the report’s grim findings, world-renowned climate scientist Professor John Sweeney expressed worry on ‘The Claire Byrne Show’ aired on RTÉ, noting things are escalating at a pace faster than originally estimated. He described the political response from across Europe as underwhelming.