Europe Grapples with Record Heat, Devastating Wildfires, and Climate Change Impacts

Across Europe, early measurements indicate that extreme heat is shattering temperature records, leading to more extensive and intense wildfires. In south-west France, several locations experienced record-breaking temperatures on Monday, with readings significantly exceeding the norms of the past few decades. Croatia also saw record-high air temperatures, accompanied by large forest fires along its coasts and in neighboring Balkan countries.

Beyond Europe, numerous temperature records were broken in Canada, and record-breaking heat in Iraq was blamed for a nationwide blackout. The heatwave in southern Europe follows unprecedented temperatures in the Arctic Circle earlier this month.

The high heat in Italy, where many major cities were under red heat alerts, and in Spain, where a man died in a wildfire, did not break a large number of records but still raised serious concerns. The extended duration and widespread impact of the heatwave are notable, even if the intensity is not always record-breaking.

In south-west France, a significant portion of weather stations recorded temperatures above 40C on Monday. Climate scientists note the geographic extent of the heat is significant. The increasing frequency of heatwaves, with a majority of those in France occurring in recent years, is a clear indication of climate warming.

The hot weather across Europe has dried out vegetation, facilitating the spread of wildfires. EU fire scientists predict "extreme to very extreme conditions" across the continent this week, with particularly severe risks in southern Europe and high anomalies expected in parts of the Nordics. Wildfires in Europe have already burned a significantly larger area this year compared to the average over the last two decades.

High heat causes tens of thousands of deaths in Europe annually. Researchers predict a substantial increase in heat-related deaths by the end of the century. Implementing effective public health measures is crucial as heatwaves become more frequent.

The World Meteorological Organization has noted that wildfires and poor air quality are worsening the negative health effects of extreme heat. Temperatures during the first week of August exceeded 42C in several regions across the globe, with some areas exceeding 45C. This situation is a direct consequence of climate change, and it is expected to worsen.