Scorching temperatures across Europe have claimed tens of thousands of lives in recent years, with those living in poverty disproportionately affected. According to Julio Díaz Jiménez, a professor at Madrid’s Carlos III Health Institute, the impact of a heatwave varies dramatically depending on living conditions: “A heatwave is not the same when you’re in a shared room with no air conditioning, as when you’re in a villa with a pool.”
Díaz Jiménez’s research, examining 17 districts in Madrid, revealed that heatwaves significantly increased mortality in only three districts—those with below-average household incomes. People with lower incomes often endure overcrowded, poorly ventilated housing, limited access to healthcare, and work in high-risk sectors like agriculture and construction, which increase their vulnerability to extreme heat. Even when air conditioning is available, many cannot afford to use it. Earlier this year, Save the Children reported that one in three children in Spain were unable to stay cool at home, posing severe risks to their physical and mental health. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Miguel Pereira/Getty Images