UN blames fossil fuel emissions as Europe faces deadly heatwave

The United Nations has warned that the severe heatwave affecting Europe is another clear reminder of the growing impact of climate change.

The United Nations has warned that the severe heatwave affecting Europe is another clear reminder of the growing impact of climate change. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the extreme temperatures are the result of continued dependence on fossil fuels and warned that such weather events will become even more dangerous unless global emissions are reduced.

In a statement released on Thursday, Stiell said the intense heat spreading across Europe reflects the worsening climate crisis. He stressed that the continued use of coal, oil and natural gas is driving global warming and making heatwaves more frequent, longer and more intense. According to him, the world will continue to face harsher weather unless countries move away from fossil fuels.

Scientists have repeatedly linked rising global temperatures with more frequent and powerful heatwaves. They say climate change has significantly increased the likelihood of prolonged periods of extreme heat, placing millions of people at greater risk.

Large parts of Western Europe have experienced unusually high temperatures this week, causing widespread disruption. The heat has forced school closures, affected power supplies and led to restrictions at several public sites. Weather experts have warned that the heatwave could continue through the end of the week in many areas.

Britain recorded its highest temperature ever for the month of June after the mercury climbed to 36.1 degrees Celsius in southern England. The country had already issued only its second ever extreme heat warning as officials urged people to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day. Hundreds of schools either closed or reduced their operating hours because of health concerns.

France also broke long standing temperature records. Paris reached 40.9 degrees Celsius, setting a new June record. Earlier, the country experienced its hottest day since weather records began almost 80 years ago, with temperatures reaching 44.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern town of Pissos.

Italy has placed 16 cities, including Rome, Milan, Florence and Turin, under its highest heat alert. Authorities warned that temperatures could continue rising over the weekend before conditions begin to improve.

The extreme weather has already resulted in a number of deaths. French authorities reported that at least 48 people drowned while trying to cool off during the heatwave. Two young children also died after being left inside a hot vehicle. In Spain, two elderly people lost their lives due to heatstroke after temperatures remained above 40 degrees Celsius for several days.

The heat has also affected agriculture and energy production. Poultry farms in parts of France reported the deaths of hundreds of thousands of birds because of the high temperatures. France’s nuclear power plants were forced to reduce electricity production after warm river water limited cooling operations.

Meteorologists said the heatwave has been caused by an Omega block, a weather pattern that traps hot air over a region for an extended period. This system has pushed temperatures as much as 18 degrees Celsius above normal across parts of Europe. Climate experts warn that as global temperatures continue to rise, similar extreme weather events are likely to become more common in the years ahead.