Climate change is sparing 30,000 lives every winter
was mostly linked to a fall in the number of deaths due to respiratory viruses and heart problems, which are known to be affected by temperatures. The data includes one year of the Covid pandemic, which may have skewed the figures. The number of deaths directly linked to cold weather dropped by 25,000 per year over the two decades analysed, such as those sparked by seasonal viruses and heart problems. But the number of deaths due to warm weather dropped by 2,000. Writing in the report, the ONS said: 'We found relatively little increase in deaths caused by warmer weather and a reduction in deaths caused by cold winters, leading to a net decrease in deaths. 'In contrast, there was a net increase in hospital admissions linked to warmer weather, especially from injuries. 'Previous research has linked warmer weather to injuries from outdoor activities, increased violence and mental health problems; direct harm from extreme heat is still less common but this is likely to change over time. 'Our findings are consistent with previous research and confirm that the warming trajectory predicted by climate scientists is already affecting health in England and Wales. 'However, the mortality impact is limited.' Warmer weather can lead to more deaths due to heat strokes, heat exhaustion and complications in vulnerable people taking medication, the World Health Organization says. Climate change can also trigger heatwaves, droughts, floods and severe storms. But in the UK deaths linked to heat are still on a downward trajectory, although hospitalisations are rising. The ONS said, however, that these admissions are linked to people spending more time outdoors and undertaking risky activities, rather than extreme heat. Hospitals are already beginning to feel the strain of warmer weather. Since 2012, hospitals have seen 12,000 more admissions per year directly linked to increased temperatures. The rise has been driven by accidents from spending more time outdoors rather than directly due to extreme heat. But the ONS said this was 'likely to change over time'. Myer Glickman, the head of the climate change team at the ONS, 'We already know over 1.5C warming is inevitable; we already see changes affecting health even in mildish UK weather. 'There's no time for delay in reducing carbon emissions but at least theres time for research and policies to mitigate impact in the UK before things get much worse.' Met Office figures show England and Wales are recording almost two extra weeks of warm days - with temperatures above 13.8C (56.8F) - than they were in 1994. The number of cold days (below 6.4C or 43.5F) has plateaued in recent years, with there being more mild days during the winter months.