The US National Oceanic Administration (NOAA) hypothesis of the arrival of a Super El Niño is raising global fears, not only as a natural phenomenon, but because it is hitting a planet already overheated by human activity.

When these two factors come together, the result is devastating. According to The Lancet’s latest report, the year 2024 marked a tragic record of 62,000 deaths attributable to extreme heat in Europe.

Almost the entire continent has recorded an increase in mortality from high temperatures in the last decade. If in the 1990s extreme heat alerts were rare, today they have increased by more than three times.

We have gone from an average of one alert per year to over four alerts in recent years. “The effects of climate change are escalating faster than our ability to respond,” warns Joacim Rocklöv, co-director of the report.

Rising temperatures are also bringing increased risks to food security and exposure to infectious diseases. Even in our region, the changes are visible. The average temperature has increased by approximately 1.5 degrees, touching the critical threshold that requires urgent intervention.

The most vulnerable are paying the highest price: babies, the elderly and those who work outdoors. In addition to the heat, the geography of diseases is also changing; the risk of dengue fever outbreaks in Europe has almost quadrupled.

While bacteria such as Vibrio are finding ideal conditions in the warmer coastal waters of Italy and France. The report points to a structural cause: Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels.

In 2023, public energy subsidies hit record highs, showing how fragile our economy and health remain in the face of energy volatility. However, there are signs of progress.

Renewable energy now accounts for over one percent of European energy and deaths from air pollution from this sector have fallen by 84 percent since 2000. The climate crisis is no longer measured in degrees Celsius, but in human lives.

It manifests itself in lengthening pollen seasons, food insecurity and cities becoming unlivable during heat waves. The solution therefore requires a deep reorganization of urban life, the growth of green spaces and a rapid transition to clean energy.

The message of the report is clear: if a Super El Niño is added to this scenario, Europe will find itself under unprecedented health and social pressure. The challenge is no longer simply environmental; it is a battle for human survival. /tesheshi.com/ 

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Source: prizrenpost