Climate change has been directly linked to 1,700 heat-related deaths in Switzerland’s Zurich canton between 1969 and 2018, according to new research from the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.

The study, “Refining methods for attributing health impacts to climate change: a heat-mortality case study in Zürich”, reveals that nearly one-third of all heat-related deaths in the region during that period were caused by human-driven global warming.

Heat Risks Beyond Extreme Heatwaves
Researchers found that climate change not only worsens extreme heatwaves, but also raises mortality on milder hot days—when temperatures exceed local health thresholds but do not reach record highs.

Resilience Helps, But Not Enough
Improved resilience measures since 2004—such as better access to cooling, healthcare, and public awareness campaigns—have prevented an estimated 700 deaths. Still, the study warns that heat-related mortality continues to rise as global temperatures increase.

The findings underscore the urgent need for climate adaptation policies to protect vulnerable populations in Europe and beyond.