European heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis

4 hours ago

Heatwave in western Europe is the most severe and widespread ever, driven by climate crisis from fossil fuel burning.
Nearly half of Europe's 850 largest cities face worst heat stress, combining high temperature and humidity, making cooling less effective.
Over 60,000 people died in Europe from heat in summer 2022, with current heatwave expected to exact heavy toll and disrupt lives.
Analysis shows heatwaves are worsening rapidly; current event would have been 2-3.5°C cooler in past decades due to less global heating.
Night-time temperatures are now about 100 times more likely than in 2003, and future conditions could make current summer seem relatively cool.
Scientists attribute the heat's severity unequivocally to climate change, ruling out natural weather variability like El Niño.
High humidity, measured by wet bulb globe temperatures, worsens health impacts, with many cities experiencing worst conditions ever.
Urgent climate action is needed, including shift to clean energy, protecting forests, and investing in heat-resilient infrastructure.
UK and other countries face infrastructure challenges, with heat-related deaths and record emergency responses highlighting widespread danger.

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