Wellcome responds to Lancet Countdown Europe report
Dr Madeleine Thomson, Head of Climate Impacts and Adaptation at Wellcome, responds to the Lancet Countdown Europe report, calling for European leaders to adapt to the new climate reality.
2-minute read
2-minute read
Dr Madeleine Thomson, Head of Climate Impacts and Adaptation at Wellcome, said:
“The past three years have been the hottest ever recorded, and with a possible El Niño in 2026, that trend is likely to continue. The Lancet Countdown Europe report exposes the growing human cost of climate change with more than 60,000 heat attributable deaths in 2024 and a quadrupling of the risk for dengue outbreaks over the last decade compared to 1980–2010.
"Every summer, Europe faces soaring temperatures, that are putting lives and livelihoods at risk. The impacts fall hardest on the most vulnerable: young children, pregnant and older people, and those with existing health conditions. Europe is simply not prepared for the health challenges ahead in our rapidly changing climate.
"The good news is that proven, practical solutions already exist. European leaders must adapt to the new climate reality and speed up the transition away from fossil fuels. Scientific evidence shows that cleaner energy and transport deliver major benefits for our health, our economies, and our climate - a triple win."
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