Public health officials and researchers defend the use of statistical excess mortality models as the most reliable method for understanding the impact of climate-related events. Because extreme heat acts as a 'threat multiplier' rather than a direct cause of death, it rarely appears on medical records. By analyzing daily death counts against temperature data, the Robert Koch Institute can identify patterns that would otherwise remain invisible. This approach allows policymakers to allocate resources, such as emergency cooling centers and public health warnings, to the regions and age groups most at risk.
Proponents argue that these models provide a necessary, evidence-based foundation for long-term climate adaptation strategies. Without such data, it would be impossible to measure the effectiveness of public health interventions or to track how the burden of disease shifts as global temperatures rise. While critics may point to the limitations of weekly versus daily estimates, the current methodology is widely considered the gold standard for public health surveillance. It provides a consistent, transparent framework that helps the public and government agencies understand the true human cost of heat waves, ultimately saving lives by highlighting the urgency of the situation.