A summer that broke records

On hot summer days, the fairgrounds in Urfahr, where thousands of people cavort during the Urfahraner Markt, remain empty. Walkers seek shade under the treetops that line the banks of the Danube. The paved terrain turns into underfloor heating. Especially in the summer of 2023, the heat was often unbearable. After all, according to the meteorologists’ measurement data so far, it is the seventh warmest summer in the history of measurements.

So far, the temperature in Austria has been 2.8 degrees above the long-term average, and around 30 hot days – i.e. those days on which more than 30 degrees Celsius were measured – have been registered in Upper Austria this year. According to the climate experts at GeoSphere Austria (formerly ZAMG), their number could increase to more than 70 days by the end of the century.

More heat deaths

“People in Austria suffered from three heat waves this summer. The last of these was the most severe, lasting almost two weeks,” said Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) at a press event that took place yesterday at the Urfahr fairgrounds. But not only the hot days are a challenge for the people, but also the numerous tropical nights, in which the thermometer shows no less than 20 degrees. “You know that: During these nights you can hardly close your eyes and you feel weak,” says Gewessler, underlining the negative effects on health.

According to calculations by the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), 231 people across Austria died as a result of the heat last year. For 2023, 300 to 500 deaths are expected. There was also a sharp increase in the number of heat deaths across Europe: more than 60,000 people died due to the heat last summer, 25,500 more than the average for the previous six years. “Elderly people and people with previous illnesses in particular, but also babies, are at increased risk in hot summers,” says Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). Hans-Peter Hutter, environmental doctor at MedUni Vienna, also warns of the health consequences of heat waves: circulatory problems, dilated blood vessels and loss of fluids are the consequences that people of all ages have to contend with in high summer temperatures.

In order to better inform Austrians about the consequences of the heat in the future, the heat protection plan is to be revised by the Competence Center for Climate and Health by the beginning of summer 2024. “Our hospitals should also be designed to be climate-friendly, because with the increase in extremely hot summers, the burden on the healthcare system increases,” says Rauch.

Green space for protection

The heat waves are also accompanied by the many extreme weather events that have caused damage in the millions across Austria in the past few weeks. While there was mostly little precipitation in Lower Austria, Vienna and northern Burgenland in July, there was hardly any rain breaks from East Tyrol to West Styria. In many parts of Austria, rain fell in just a few days in August due to two Italian lows, which are otherwise measured throughout August.

In order to be prepared for heat waves and heavy rain events in the future, Environment Councilor Stefan Kaineder is calling for areas to be unsealed. “Our goal is: more trees and green spaces, less concrete and asphalt. Green areas are not only important for biodiversity, they protect against flooding and, above all, against overheating,” says Kaineder.

Summer Balance 2023

• 231 heat deaths were recorded in 2022, for 2023 AGES even expects 300 to 500 deaths from heat in Austria.
• 74 hot days will be recorded per year by the end of the century. There are currently about 40.

3 questions for Hans-Peter Hutter

The environmental physician on the climate crisis as a threat to health

Mr. Hutter, what do you need to keep in mind from a health perspective during heat waves?

The cardiovascular system is under enormous strain and performance decreases. What many physicians should bear in mind when administering medication: When it is hot, a different dosage of the medication – such as blood pressure medication – may be necessary. The most important measure, however, is to go to rooms that are as cool as possible so that you are not constantly exposed to the heat. The climate crisis is certainly the greatest threat to human health in the long term, and it is often underestimated.

Who is struggling the most with health problems in the high summer temperatures?

Actually, no one is immune to it, because the heat makes things difficult for all of us, regardless of age. Socially disadvantaged people who cannot afford air conditioning in their own four rooms are particularly affected.

What are the most common effects of heat on the human body?

A major challenge is certainly the lack of sleep, even if the temperature at night is more than 20 degrees. What often happens is that the heat increases people’s potential for aggression. Because the hot temperatures not only have a physical effect, but also mentally. Climate protection and precaution are therefore indispensable.