The report of this English publication states: Rising energy prices can cost lives. This problem discourages people from properly heating the home and living in cold conditions increases the risk of heart and respiratory diseases.
The Economist continues to write: Last November we predicted that an increase in electricity prices would kill between 22,000 and 138,000 people, and unfortunately our prediction appears to have been correct.
And indicating that the number of casualties in Europe during the winter of last year was higher than expected, this economic publication added: Statistics show that 149,000 people died in 28 European countries between November 2022 and February 2023, more than in the same period last year. This amount shows an increase of 7.8% lost.
Of those who lost their lives last winter, nearly 60,000 are recorded as deaths due to Covid-19. A one-degree drop in average air temperature also increased the death rate by 2.2%.
According to the report, the countries with the highest mortality rates saw the highest increases in fuel costs. The Economist writes: We estimate that an increase of around €0.10 per kilowatt-hour led to a 2.2% increase in losses for the week. Meanwhile, if the cost of electricity were the same in 2020, the death toll would be 68,000 less.
Meanwhile, Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, predicted that the European energy crisis did not end last year, but that it will become more difficult during this winter. Referring to the suspension of Russian natural gas imports to Europe, a possible shortage of LNG (liquefied natural gas) and higher-than-normal temperatures this year, he added: “Europe may not only face energy shortages this year and this will not be limited to the crisis. End, but next year 2023 it will be more difficult than this year.
In addition to increasing the number of victims, the energy crisis has caused millions of job losses in the European Union. It seems that signs of the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, which has become a pretext for imposing sanctions by the West on Moscow, have appeared on the European continent. Concern in the countries of this continent has caused the authorities to try to find alternative sources of fuel and to call on the people to remain calm.
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