A new study supported by the ProAdapta Project highlights the urgent need to expand climate adaptation measures in Brazil. Released on June 17, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the research found that approximately 120,000 deaths were associated with heatwaves in the country between 2000 and 2019, underscoring the increasingly severe impacts of global warming on public health.
Entitled Health and Heatwaves in Brazil: Evidence on Mortality, Hospital Morbidity, and Implications for the Unified Health System (SUS), the study was conducted by researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) under the technical coordination of the Science&Climate and ProAdapta projects. Its objective is to generate scientific evidence that supports governments and public authorities in designing policies and strategies to address the risks posed by extreme heat.
The findings show that most Brazilian municipalities experienced an increase in both the frequency and intensity of heatwaves over the past two decades. In addition to heat-related deaths, the study identified rising hospital admissions for respiratory, renal, and metabolic diseases, with particularly significant impacts on children, older adults, women, and socially vulnerable populations.
For the ProAdapta Project, the results reinforce the importance of integrating climate adaptation into public health policies, urban planning, and environmental management. The study demonstrates that the effects of climate change are already directly affecting the quality of life and health of the Brazilian population, requiring coordinated, evidence-based responses.
ProAdapta is a cooperation initiative between Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), implemented within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and aims to strengthen Brazil’s capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
By supporting studies such as this one, ProAdapta helps transform scientific knowledge into practical tools for public planning and policymaking. The evidence generated enables decision-makers to identify vulnerable groups, anticipate risks, and guide investments in preventive measures such as early warning systems, urban greening, green infrastructure, and strengthened healthcare services.
The study also highlights that the impacts of heatwaves are not evenly distributed across the country. While the North and Central-West regions recorded more frequent and longer-lasting events, the highest temperature intensities were observed in the South and Southeast regions. These differences reinforce the need for adaptation strategies tailored to local realities.
The publication is another outcome of the international cooperation promoted by IKI, which supports initiatives focused on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development around the world. In Brazil, the knowledge generated through ProAdapta has contributed to strengthening the capacity of federal, state, and municipal governments to protect communities in the face of an increasingly hotter and more extreme climate.
