Europe’s record-breaking heatwave and deadly extreme weather events underline the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels and accelerate global climate action.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell on Wednesday described the record-breaking heatwave sweeping across western Europe as “a brutal reminder of the spiraling impacts of the climate crisis” as countries from Britain to France endured unusually high temperatures for May.
The United Kingdom and France both recorded their hottest-ever May days this week after a powerful “heat dome” pushed temperatures more commonly seen in midsummer across large parts of western Europe.
Stiell said humanity’s continued burning of coal, oil and gas remained the “main culprit” behind the worsening climate emergency.
“The science is clear that human-induced climate change is making these heatwaves more frequent and extreme,” he said in a statement.
He also pointed to severe weather conditions in India where troops are battling forest fires and local authorities have reported deaths linked to heatstroke.
According to international air-quality monitoring platform AQI, the world’s 45 hottest cities at midday on Wednesday were all located in India with temperatures exceeding 43 degrees Celsius.
“Protecting human lives, businesses and economies from extreme heat and the many other soaring costs of climate change is core business for every nation and it starts with kicking the fossil fuel addiction much faster,” Stiell said.
He added that the war in the Middle East had exposed the “soaring costs” of dependence on fossil fuels and underscored the urgent need to transition toward cleaner energy sources.
French authorities on Tuesday reported at least seven deaths linked to the heatwave including five drownings as many people sought relief from the heat at beaches and other water spots.
In Britain, authorities said four teenagers had drowned in England since Sunday.
France and the UK first broke their May temperature records on Monday before surpassing them again on Tuesday.
Ireland also registered record temperatures for May while Spain, Italy and Austria experienced unusually intense heat for this time of year.
