Reacción a "Climate change and an ageing population will accentuate disparities in heat and cold deaths in Europe"

The results are broadly in line with what existing research has shown in multiple contexts around the globe – namely, that temperature extremes do not affect everyone equally, with the elderly and the least well-off being most at risk. What is especially striking is that the authors find clear differences in risk across country boundaries and also regional clusters of mortality risk. Temperature gradients do not respect borders, so as the authors point out, this shows how demographic and socio-economic factors influence the risk we face from temperature extremes. There are countermeasures we can take, which may be particularly effective if they are targeted towards the most vulnerable people and places. For example, the study points to investment in health infrastructure, the presence of heat- and cold preparedness plans, and the quality of the buildings we live and work in as factors that could reduce mortality under a changing climate.