Report warns climate change could bring 50-fold rise in heat deaths

HEAT-RELATED deaths in England and Wales could rise up to 50-fold in the next 50 years as an ageing population is hit by dangerous climate change, a study warns.

- 

The warning comes as parts of the UK face a third heatwave in a month pushing temperatures above 30C, adding to concerns over the rising impact of the "silent killer" of extreme heat as climate change worsens.

Experts are calling for efforts to adapt homes and cities to the threat of extreme heat, with measures ranging from green roofs and shady urban forests to better building ventilation, air conditioning and more support for vulnerable people.

Scientists have already estimated that the first heatwave in late June was made 100 times more likely because of climate change, and the second was 2-4C hotter and tripled deaths across 12 European cities including London as a result of global warming. Now a new study from scientists at University College London and The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine warns annual heat-related deaths are set to climb into the thousands or even tens of thousands over the coming decades.