The world will have to learn to live with heatwaves, the World Meteorological Organization, a UN agency, said today, as much of Europe sweltered under extreme summer temperatures.
“Due to human-induced global warming, extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense. This is something we have to learn to live with,” spokeswoman Claire Nilis told a news conference in Geneva.
The persistent heatwave hit southern Europe on Monday, with temperatures never seen before in France, where the mercury is expected to continue to soar, leading to record temperatures in Spain and the Mediterranean, and even the formation of an impressive “cloud” of heat in Portugal.
Although July is traditionally the hottest month of the year in the northern hemisphere, Claire Nilis explained that such heatwaves so early in the summer are still exceptional, although they have happened in the past.
She said that Western Europe is sweltering due to a strong anticyclone that traps warm air coming from North Africa.
One of the aggravating factors of this heatwave is the exceptionally high temperature of the Mediterranean Sea, which averaged 26.01 degrees Celsius, according to data from the European Copernicus program recorded on Sunday, which is a record.
Claire Nilis said that urban heat islands are making the situation worse in cities, due to the lack of vegetation to absorb the heat.
According to her, these extreme heatwaves are “silent killers”, because the number of deaths related to heat is often underestimated in official statistics.
“It is important to emphasize that every heat-related death is preventable, we have the knowledge and the tools, we can save lives,” she added.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, early warnings of these heatwaves and coordinated action plans are essential to protect the population.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said its teams were mobilised across Europe to help people cope with the current heatwave.
“Volunteers are providing water and caring for the most vulnerable, such as the homeless, the elderly and outdoor workers,” it said in a statement, adding that extreme heat does not have to be catastrophic because knowledge, preparation and early action make all the difference.
