Editorial: Europe bears the brunt of climate crisis

Scorching heat across Europe is a stark reminder of the accelerating climate crisis and the repeated failure of nations to honour their commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions

The scorching heat sweeping across Europe, claiming over 1,300 lives this season, is a stark reminder of the deepening climate crisis and the broken promises of nations to meet emission targets. Reports of people drowning in France after jumping into rivers and canals to escape the heat highlight the severity of the crisis. Heatwaves are driven by rapidly rising global temperatures, which are, in turn, caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Temperatures have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several countries; red alerts have spread across France and other parts of Europe; schools have shut; transport systems have been disrupted; and health services have come under immense pressure. The UK recorded its hottest June day on record, while Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany have all experienced conditions that until recently would have been considered highly unusual. Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists say man-made climate change is making heatwaves substantially more frequent and severe. The World Weather Attribution rapid study released recently found that the heat would have been virtually impossible just five decades ago, and is 200 times more likely today than it was 20 years ago. Over 45% of the 850 cities analysed across 30 European countries have broken, or are expected to hit, records for heat stress levels, a measure that includes humidity and temperature.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that Europe has lost over 2 lakh people to heat in the past four years. Climate breakdown is heating Europe faster than any other continent because of local weather patterns and proximity to the rapidly melting Arctic. The current heatwave is no exception to its effects. For scientists who have long warned that heatwaves are getting worse as carbon pollution rises, the failure to follow expert advice has become worrisome. Heat and health experts have called for more shading to keep heat out of homes, better ventilation to cool them down as they warm, and more green space in cities to counter the urban heat island effect. However, experts are divided over mass adoption of air conditioning, which heightens the risk of blackouts and worsens the urban heat island effect. The latest WHO guidance recommends nuanced adoption, arguing it is not a sustainable societal solution but remains crucial for those at increased risk of high temperatures. While air conditioning offers temporary relief from extreme heat, it actually increases global warming as the electricity required to power it is still mostly generated by fossil fuels. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, some cooling equipment, including fridges and air conditioners, run on hydrofluorocarbons, synthetic gases that pollute the atmosphere.