Europe is baking under one of its deadliest heat waves in history. Temperatures have soared above 40°C (104°F) across multiple countries. Hospitals are under pressure. Power grids are struggling. People are dying. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,300 excess deaths have already been linked to the extreme heat.
The World Health Organization has already developed comprehensive Heat-Health Action Plans that provide governments with practical, evidence-based guidance. It's time all countries in Europe adopt these plans to protect their citizens.
Sign the petition urging every EU country to immediately adopt and implement the World Health Organization's latest Heat-Health Action Plans Guidance before even more lives are lost.
Scientists warn that extreme heat is becoming more frequent and more intense as the climate changes. What was once considered a "once-in-a-generation" heat wave is now occurring almost every year.
Heat is already one of the world's deadliest weather-related hazards, contributing to an estimated 489,000 deaths globally every year. Yet many European homes, schools, workplaces, and cities were never designed for these dangerous temperatures.
It's clear that many of these deaths can be prevented if countries follow the WHOs Heat-Health Action Plans. These plans include stronger early warning systems, coordinated emergency responses, protections for outdoor workers, public cooling centers, better preparedness for hospitals and care facilities, safer urban planning, and clear public communication before dangerous heat arrives.
Every country should have a comprehensive heat-health plan that is fully funded, regularly updated, and ready to save lives before the next extreme heat event strikes.
Sign the petition now to urge every EU country to fully implement the WHO's Heat-Health Action Plans Guidance and protect people from the growing threat of extreme heat.
