7 d. ago London heatwave killed 263 people – with climate crisis to blame for most, study says

Study finds around 1,500 of the 2,300 estimated heat deaths in Europe during recent weeks were the result of the climate crisis

Events

7 d. ago Extreme heat is our future – European cities must adapt | Alexander Hurst

Greenery, shade and swimming spots won’t solve the climate crisis, but they’re becoming ever more criticalThree years ago, in Zurich for the first time, I crossed a bridge over the Limmat River and saw people floating down it in rubber rings on their way home from work, some casually holding beers. The Limmat is so clear that it almost begs you not only to jump in, but to drink it.Paris’s Canal Saint-Martin has never produced either desire in me – but sweltering in last week’s 38C heat, I wanted to close my eyes, pretend it was the Limmat, and leap. Others weren’t so hesitant; there was a line of people going up one of the footbridges over the canal waiting for their turn to jump, dive, backflip or just belly-flop into the water.Alexander Hurst is a Guardian Europe columnist Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Climate breakdown tripled death toll in Europe’s June heatwave, study finds

Heat caused 2,300 deaths across 12 cities, of which 1,500 were down to climate crisis, scientists sayPlanet-heating pollution tripled the death toll from the “quietly devastating” heatwave that seared Europe at the end of June, early analysis covering a dozen cities has found, as experts warned of a worsening health crisis that is being overlooked.Scientists estimate that high heat killed 2,300 people across 12 major cities as temperatures soared across Europe between 23 June and 2 July. They attributed 1,500 of the deaths to climate breakdown, which has heated the planet and made the worst extremes even hotter. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Heatwaves set to spark cheese crisis for one obvious reason, boffins warn

Heatwaves are set to spark a global cheese crisis as cows are get udder-ly annoyed in extreme temperatures, as scientists have found the hot sunny is meddling with their production

Events

2 w. ago Political cowardice hindering Europe’s climate efforts, says EU’s green chief

Teresa Ribera says effects of crisis are becoming increasingly obvious but not translating into proper actionPolitical cowardice is hindering European efforts to face up to the effects of the climate crisis, even as the continent is pummelled by a record-breaking heatwave, the EU’s green transition chief has warned.In an interview with the Guardian, Teresa Ribera said that although the effects of the climate emergency were becoming increasingly obvious, they were still not translating into proper action. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Temperature records shatter as heatwave grips Europe and UK records hottest day of year

Public health warnings as heatwave raises concerns about impact of climate changeWhat you need to know about heatwavesThe French prime minister François Bayrou, who attended a government crisis meeting over the heatwave, was asked about the great difficulty of French schools to handle the heatwave.More than 1,350 schools across France were fully or partially closed on Tuesday as classrooms proved dangerously hot for children and teachers, amid anger from teaching unions. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Paris on red alert as Europe faces extreme heat with weather warnings across the continent

Public health warnings as heatwave raises concerns about impact of climate changeWhat you need to know about heatwavesThe French prime minister François Bayrou, who attended a government crisis meeting over the heatwave, was asked about the great difficulty of French schools to handle the heatwave.More than 1,350 schools across France were fully or partially closed on Tuesday as classrooms proved dangerously hot for children and teachers, amid anger from teaching unions. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago The Guardian view on extreme weather: build national readiness – or let everyday life keep breaking down | Editorial

Britain faces rising climate threats, yet lacks a country adaptation plan. Urgent, coordinated investment is needed to protect lives and infrastructureBritain’s four-day heatwave – made 100 times more likely by the climate crisis – is expected to claim about 600 lives. Researchers say high temperatures from Thursday to Sunday would lead to a sharp rise in excess mortality, especially among older people in cities such as London and Birmingham. They forecast the deadliest day as Saturday, with temperatures above 32C and about 266 deaths. These are not abstract figures, but lives cut short by a threat we understand, yet remain unprepared for.Young people seem to grasp this. In a YouGov poll last week, roughly a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds said they hoped there wouldn’t be a heatwave – while more than two-fifths of older people welcomed the sunshine. That generational split isn’t just cultural. It reflects an entirely rational anxiety: younger people face a future living in a climate...

Politics

3 w. ago UK heatwave 'made 100 times more likely' by climate crisis as 'deadliest extreme weather' sparks amber alert

Scientists have warned that the extreme 32C heat hitting the UK this weekend was made more likely by human-caused climate change

Events

3 w. ago Deadly weekend heat in England ‘100 times more likely’ due to climate crisis

High temperatures likely to cause deaths and will worsen in future as global heating intensifies, scientists warnThe dangerous 32C heat that will be endured by people in the south-east of England on Saturday will have been made 100 times more likely by the climate crisis, scientists have calculated.Global heating, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is making every heatwave more likely and more intense. The 32C (89.6F) day forecast on Saturday would have been expected only once every 2,500 years without the climate crisis, the researchers said, and June heatwaves are now about 2-4C (3.6-7.2F) hotter than in the past. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Pupils in England face lost learning from flooding and extreme heat, study finds

School leaders call for action on adaptation measures as DfE research warns of potential impact of climate crisisChildren in England face prolonged “lost learning” caused by extreme heat and flooding at school, according to research on the potential impact of the climate crisis on education.School leaders and teachers said the scenarios published by the Department for Education made for grim reading and urged ministers to move quickly to improve school resilience. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Martin Lewis reveals the cheapest ways to stay cool during the heatwave

Amid an energy market crisis, keeping cool in the heat can come with an expensive price tag, the Manchester-based money expert said.

Politics

4 w. ago US Air Force shifts military planes to Europe to ‘provide options’ as Iran crisis heats up

At least 30 aerial refueling aircraft spotted crossing Atlantic as Middle East tensions explode

Events