Hot winds are sweeping across various countries in Europe, stretching across the horizon. Particularly, southern Europe seems to have turned into a fiery furnace.
In Spain’s Huelva region, a record-high temperature of 46°C has been logged—marking the highest temperature ever recorded in June in that country’s history. Italy, Greece, Portugal, and the western Balkans are also enduring extreme heat. The heatwave is triggering wildfires, and thousands are fleeing their homes in search of safety.
The ongoing heatwave, record-breaking temperatures, spreading wildfires, and the looming fear of mass deaths together present a harsh and undeniable reality. One could say Europe’s heatwave is sending out a burning message of global warming. It’s as if nature itself is shouting a dire warning: we must not sleepwalk through this crisis.
A critical question arises—Is this natural disaster merely part of Earth’s regular climate cycle? Or is it a consequence of human-induced global warming? Science clearly supports the latter.
A recent analysis found that out of 116 heatwaves in Europe over the past few decades, 110 (or 95%) were made more intense and more likely due to climate change. Compared to the pre-industrial era, today’s heatwaves are ten times more probable.
Scientific studies indicate that Europe is warming by 0.5°C per decade—while the global average rate is 0.2°C. Europe is, therefore, the fastest-warming continent on Earth. According to the World Meteorological Organization, 23 of the 30 most extreme heatwaves in Europe from 1950 to 2023 occurred after the year 2000.
This is no coincidence—it is the logical outcome of unchecked fossil fuel use, deforestation, and unplanned urbanization. Those who claim environmental protection is a luxury must now realize—today’s heatwaves tell us that protecting the environment is not a luxury, but a necessity for survival.
Europe is currently trapped under a “heat dome”—a weather system formed by a high-pressure zone that traps hot air and leads to prolonged heatwaves. As a result, temperatures keep rising, and the heat becomes more intense and widespread.
This also greatly increases the risk of wildfires, as seen in Turkey, Albania, and Greece. Research suggests this trend will only intensify and last longer in the future. And it’s not just heatwaves—connected crises include wildfires, marine heatwaves, droughts, and air pollution.
A World Health Organization (WHO) official has remarked: “The question is no longer if a heatwave will occur, but how often and for how long.” The situation is becoming more alarming because Europe’s healthcare systems are not yet prepared to handle such conditions.
According to WHO data, only 21 out of 57 countries in the European region have a National Heat-Health Action Plan—and only 14 of those are EU member states.
Yet even in this crisis lies an opportunity—if we do not wake up now, future catastrophes will be far worse. This Earth is our only planet, our only home. There is no "Planet B", and so there is no "Plan B" either.
Europe’s current heatwave must be seen as a blazing message: the countdown is nearing its end. Now is the time to act, to become aware, and to take meaningful steps. Today, nature seems to be writing in the fiery script of heat: if we do not act now, the future will not just be hotter—it will be catastrophic.
