The trend of heat-related mortality in Spain

Abstract

Rapid urbanization, increasing and aging population combined with rising temperatures and extreme weather events present severe worldwide challenges for the near future. Spain is not an exception; characterized by one of the highest life expectancies in Europe and a very high urban density in its cities. Moreover, its diverse climate, ranging from arid to wet, hot, and cold regions, is affected by heatwaves during the summertime. Increases in temperatures require physiological adaptation and can be a health burden. People suffering from obesity, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or renal failures have greater difficulty adapting to heat events. Moreover, the Spanish built environment presents some overheating challenges, as half of its building stock was constructed before 1980. Green infrastructure enhances the urban climate and thermal comfort; however, the distribution of green areas in Spain is insufficient. This chapter presents the current trends of heat-related mortality in Spain, summarizing the most relevant findings in research. A total of 27 published papers on heat-related mortality are reviewed and discussed. Additionally, data on heatwaves and mortality due to excess heat are presented. Current mitigation techniques, such as implementing heathealth prevention plans and other solutions, are discussed to establish systems to cope with heatwaves and to improve the quality of life of the Spanish population. However, more research with standardized procedures is needed. Furthermore, we need to quantify the effectiveness of the already implemented strategies to determine the most suitable for every Spanish climate and city condition.