A coalition of doctors and health experts is urging city councils in Ireland to develop heat-health action plans to protect people during high temperature events.
The Climate and Health Alliance, which includes the Irish Heart Foundation, Irish Cancer Society and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, warned that the country’s cities were not prepared for the health impacts of extreme heat.
“Cities are literal hot spots,” said alliance member Dr Christie Godsmark of the School of Public Health, University College Cork.
Heat-absorbing materials such as concrete and asphalt, combined with a lack of green space, mean cities can become ‘urban heat islands’, with temperatures several degrees hotter than surrounding areas.
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The trapped heat affects everyone living and working in a city but certain groups are particularly vulnerable, such as older people, infants and those with chronic illnesses.
“Extreme heat puts strain on health services and infrastructure and can have devastating physical and mental health consequences,” Godsmark said.
“The current heatwave is a reminder that extreme heat is now a local issue and it requires an urgent response.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said last month that extreme heat had cost 200,000 lives in Europe over the past four years.
While Ireland usually escapes the most severe heat, the Economic and Social Research Institute has warned heatwaves were likely to cause almost 500 deaths in the country annually by the end of the century.
The WHO issued guidance on preparing heat-health action plans, saying cities must reduce heat exposure by increasing green spaces, creating cooling centres and improving building design.
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Training for social services, schools and community groups to recognise and respond to heat-related illnesses is also recommended.
Hospitals and primary care units should also get extra resources to be able to respond quickly to the increased presentations caused by heat-related emergencies and illnesses.
Godsmark said the guidance should be adopted by Irish cities.
“Europe is the fastest-warming continent but with adequate heat-health planning and action, most deaths from heat can be prevented,’ she said.
“The WHO has given us a clear, evidence-based framework. The next step is for our city councils to act on it, to ensure we are prepared for the heatwaves to come.”
The Irish Times reported last week that the Department of Health accepted a recommendation in 2019 to prepare a “heatwave plan” but to date there was “partial progress” on it.
The urban heat island effect has been recognised for at least 200 years and the first study of its effect in Dublin was 40 years ago.
The city’s challenges have intensified, with a quarter of all the heat spikes of the last 80 years – when temperatures exceeded 25 degrees – happening in the last 10 years.
