The study published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal on Friday warned that deaths in Europe caused by weather disasters would increase from 2,700 deaths a year between 1981 and 2010 to 151,500 deaths a year in the timeframe 2071 to 2100.

The study also projected that around two-thirds of Europeans will be exposed to extreme weather annually by the end of the century.

Read more: Climate change could make South Asia too hot for human survival by 2100

That translates to more than 350 million people per year. By contrast, on average around 25 million people per year were found to have been exposed to weather disasters between 1981 and 2010. Exposure included anything from death and disease to losing a home.

"Climate change is one of the biggest global threats to human health of the 21st century, and its peril to society will be increasingly connected to weather-driven hazards," said Giovanni Forzieri, who co-led the study on behalf of the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Italy. "Unless global warming is curbed as a matter of urgency and appropriate adaptation measures are taken, about 350 million Europeans could be exposed to harmful climate extremes on an annual basis by the end of this century."

Researchers analyzed records of weather-related events in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland during the 30-year reference period from 1981 to 2010. They then compared this to projections in population growth and migration, and future heat waves, droughts, floods and cold snaps.

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The study was based on the assumption that there would be no drop in the rate of global greenhouse gas emissions and that average global temperatures would rise by 3 degrees Celsius (C) (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100 from their 1990 levels.

Heat waves still the main killer

The study found that deaths from heat waves were projected to increase by 5,400 percent and could cause as many as 99 percent of all weather-related deaths.

Meanwhile, coastal floods were projected to increase by 3,780 percent, wildfires by 138 percent, river floods by 54 percent and windstorms by 20 percent.

While climate change will naturally be the principal driver of weather-related disasters, accounting for 90 percent of the risk, the remaining 10 percent will be spurred by population growth, migration and urbanization, according to the report.

This is what climate change looks like Flaming inferno Some 10,500 firefighters were called to tackle forest fires in California in 2015. They were unable to prevent 1,400 homes from destruction. The blaze was fueled by hot and dry weather - as a result of climate change.

This is what climate change looks like Vanishing hunting grounds The polar bear has become a symbol of climate change, as its habitat is threatened by global warming. The Arctic predator hunts from ice sheets that are fast disappearing. As the ice retreats, they are unable to stalk their prey, and risk starvation. By 2050, scientists warn that the Arctic could be ice-free in summer.

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This is what climate change looks like No use bleating A goat watches a mountain expedition on the Swiss Aletsch Glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was around a kilometer longer in 1860 than it is today. Due to global warming, the glacier is shrinking by up to 50 meters per year. With the rate of retreat increasing, scientists fear Europe's biggest glacier could disappear altogether.

This is what climate change looks like Viewed from a safe distance … … the landscape looks peaceful, bathed in a mystical light. But the actual situation is far more unsettling. This aerial view shows Central Luzon in the Philippines, completely flooded after it was hit by a typhoon and heavy rain. People were drowned or buried under landslides, and half a million were forced to flee their homes. The country is hit by 20 typhoons each year.

This is what climate change looks like When everything is lost … … escape is all that's left. The World Bank warns that if global warming continues unimpeded, another 100 million people will be under threat. Poor people in parts of Africa and South Asia are at particular risk. Drought and flooding threaten crops - leading to hunger, disease and high food prices.

This is what climate change looks like Children carry the burden Climate change often hits children the hardest, through no fault of their own. Studies have found that economic problems exacerbated by drought can have profound social impacts, such as in an increase in child marriages, for example. Families may marry off their underage daughters earlier to have fewer mouths they have to feed.

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This is what climate change looks like Shipping out The Rhine River is Europe's busiest waterway for shipping - but climate change is affecting business. Ongoing drought means shipping firms would be forced to use shorter vessels that can navigate shallower waters. If ships aren't able to set off, more goods have to be transported by road - which is more expensive.

This is what climate change looks like Pale as a ghost Healthy coral reefs are like a blooming garden. But global warming is bleaching the life out of them. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae, which are vital to their health. But as the water heats up, they expel the algae. If warmer water temperatures persist, a lack of nutrients calcifies the corals, which makes their color fade and causes the organisms to die.

This is what climate change looks like Vineyards heading north Global warming also has its benefits. In recent years, wine is being produced on Germany's northernmost island, Sylt. Ever more vineyards are being established at higher altitudes and further north - even Scandinavia now has some. Global warming also means earlier harvests and sweeter grapes. Author: Karin Jäger / rr, ng



Paul Wilkinson, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the research, said the results were very worrying. "Global warming could result in rapidly rising human impacts unless adequate adaptation measures are taken, with an especially steep rise in the mortality risks of extreme heat," he said. The study adds "further weight to the powerful argument for accelerating mitigation actions."

Read more: Climate change is making our summers more extreme

The study comes as much of southern Europe finds itself in the midst of a heat wave with several areas recording temperatures of up to 44C. Italy is seeing temperatures 10C higher than the usual average for this time of year.

On Wednesday, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) warned that large parts of South Asia could become too hot for human survival by 2100. The worst-affected region, which covers India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, is currently home to some 1.5 billion people.

dm/gsw (Reuters, AFP)