- Hay fever sufferers in Europe are now enduring symptoms for up to two weeks longer than in the 1990s, a direct consequence of the escalating climate crisis prolonging pollen seasons.
- The Lancet Countdown in Europe 2026 report indicates that pollen seasons for trees like birch, alder and olive have started one to two weeks earlier between 2015 and 2024 compared to 1991-2000.
- This extended exposure to allergens significantly impacts millions, worsening quality of life and posing severe health risks, including triggering life-threatening asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups.
- Beyond hay fever, the report highlights a 318 per cent increase in heat health warnings across Europe, an estimated 62,000 heat-related deaths in 2024, and a 297 per cent rise in mosquito-borne dengue outbreak risk.
- Experts warn that climate change's health impacts are intensifying faster than current responses, stressing the urgent need to accelerate the transition to clean energy to protect public health and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
IN FULL
