Deaths from heat could triple in Europe by 2100 under current climate policies, mostly among people living in southern parts of the continent, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal.

"In recent years, Europe has experienced some of its hottest summers, which have coincided with high mortality rates. Elderly people are at heightened risk of death from extreme temperatures, and the number of people reaching old age is projected to increase over time.

Most previous studies projecting deaths from hot and cold temperatures in Europe have contained little local-level detail or have been in-depth assessments for individual countries, mostly in Western Europe. This study is the first in-depth analysis of the current and future health risks from hot and cold temperatures across Europe to look at the predicted impact on regions within countries…"