The Europe heatwave was made significantly more intense by human-caused climate change, with scientists warning such extreme temperatures were once virtually impossible.
LONDON: The Europe heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring across the continent was made dramatically more intense by human-caused climate change, according to a new analysis by the World Weather Attribution group. Scientists said the exceptional June temperatures would have been virtually impossible without global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
The study, conducted by researchers from Europe, the United States and the United Kingdom, found that a similar heatwave in June 1976 would have been around 3.5°C cooler during the day. Even compared with the devastating 2003 European heatwave, the current event would have been about 2°C cooler without today’s warmer climate.
Lead author Theodore Keeping from Imperial College London said the current event could not have occurred in June without climate change. Researchers noted that global temperatures have already risen by around 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels due to greenhouse gas emissions from coal, oil and natural gas.
Europe, recognised as the world’s fastest-warming continent, has experienced record-breaking temperatures across several countries this week. Scientists explained that while the weather pattern itself was not unusual, climate change significantly increased the intensity of the heat. The analysis also concluded that the natural El Niño climate pattern played no role in driving the extreme temperatures.
Researchers warned that the combination of intense heat and humidity has increased the risk of dangerous heat stress, a condition that occurs when the human body can no longer cool itself effectively. Symptoms can range from dehydration and dizziness to organ failure and death in severe cases. The study found that nearly 45 per cent of the almost 850 European cities analysed had broken or were expected to break their June heat stress records.
The Europe heatwave is the second major heat event to affect the continent this year following unusually high temperatures in May. Scientists stressed that rapidly reducing fossil fuel use remains essential to limiting future warming and preventing even more extreme weather events. The Europe heatwave highlights the growing impact of climate change on public health, infrastructure and daily life across the continent.
