As the planet warms and Europe faces an unprecedented heat wave, scientists are increasingly able to link extreme weather events to human activity.

A study by World Weather Attribution showed that the heatwave sweeping across Europe would have been impossible five decades ago. In fact, members of the research team from Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom, concluded that in June 1976, an extreme heatwave like the one currently prevailing this June would have had maximum temperatures at least 3.5 degrees Celsius lower. The Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees Celsius, with scientists agreeing that this increase is primarily due to the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas.

“It is crucial to immediately phase out fossil fuels to prevent even higher temperatures and more severe consequences of climate change in the future.”

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Even compared to the deadly heatwave that struck European countries in 2003, the study concludes that a comparable heatwave in June 2003 would have been about 2 degrees Celsius cooler.

“Our analysis shows that extreme heat is increasing rapidly, even within our lifetimes. Such events are now tens to hundreds of times more likely than in 2003 and were virtually impossible just 50 years ago.”

It is estimated that of the more than 800 European cities examined by experts, approximately 45% have already broken every heat stress record for this month.

“And just to remind you, it’s June—you know, it’s June. We’re seeing heat levels that would be more typical for late July or August.”
_{^{Claire Nallis – Spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization}}

Impact on Wallets

“A prolonged, intense heat wave in late June in Europe, as you all know, as you’ve all felt, has broken many temperature records and is having significant impacts on human health, ecosystems, agriculture, and labor productivity.”
_{^{Claire Nallis – Spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization}}

This statement is corroborated by yet another study released amid the record-breaking temperatures plaguing Europe. Over the past 20 years, prolonged heat waves and droughts have reduced the annual income of European households by an average of nearly 3%.

Factors contributing to this conclusion include, among others, deteriorating health conditions, reduced labor productivity, and decreased food production.

As the study notes, high temperatures reduce worker productivity, increase sick leave due to heat exhaustion and cardiovascular events, and limit working hours for outdoor activities. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 5.6 million Europeans are at increased risk of poverty due to the economic impacts of climate change.