Climate change

In Poland, where coal is king, homeowners queue for days to buy fuel

In Poland's late summer heat, dozens of cars and trucks line up at a coal mine, as householders fearful of winter shortages wait for days and nights to stock up on heating fuel in queues reminiscent of communist times.

European wine harvests off to a mixed start

The harvest season has started early in most European vineyards, following an unprecedented summer of heatwaves and droughts. Conditions have brought mixed fortunes for producers, with some vines experiencing heat stress and others thriving due to lower disease rates.

More evidence high temperatures lead to increased suicide rates

High temperatures coincide with increased suicide rates, a study published by the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research on Wednesday (24 August) reads, confirming other EU studies on the topic.

African states to use threat of fossil fuels to get EU climate finance

Ahead of the COP27 summit scheduled for November, there are fears African governments will use the threat of exploiting fossil fuel reserves to push European nations to keep their promises on climate change, investments and infrastructure. 

Berlin’s transport sector emergency plan fails to pass muster

Germany’s emergency plan to get the building and transport sectors on track for climate neutrality failed to achieve their targets, according to the country's expert-led Climate Council.

Europe’s summer crops severely affected by extreme weather

European summer crops have been severely affected by drought in recent months with repercussions on yields, according to the latest forecast from the crop monitoring service (MARS) of the European Commission's research centre.

Severe drought in Europe is ‘worsening’: EU experts

A severe drought hitting swathes of Europe is "worsening" and, while rain is helping some regions, accompanying thunderstorms are causing their own damage, EU researchers said in a report Monday (22 August).

Flash floods as Europe’s heatwave ends with thunderstorms

Prolonged heat waves across swathes of northern and western Europe ended with torrential showers and thunderstorms this week.

Hungarians renew protest at ‘forest destruction’ as government rolls back some changes

Around a thousand Hungarians protested for the second time in less than a week against a loosening of logging regulations by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government amid increased demand for firewood due to surging gas and electricity prices.

Climate change driving unprecedented forest fire loss

Forest fires supercharged by climate change are burning twice as much global tree cover as 20 years ago, according to data Wednesday (17 August) showing the equivalent of 16 football pitches are now lost every minute.

How to prevent Europe’s forest fires

The EU’s proposed Forest Monitoring Law is just one of a raft of measures that could help avert catastrophic forest fires, writes professor Sten B. Nilsson.

Rain brings relief to France fires, but more evacuated in south

A forest fire that flared anew in southern France sent 1,000 more people fleeing while overnight rain brought blazes elsewhere in the country under control, officials said on Sunday (14 August).

Brussels’ flower carpet blooms despite heatwave

The creators of Brussels' flower carpet, unfurled every two years in front of city hall, are opting for more heat-resistant blooms for the first time in the project's 50-year history to adapt to Europe's heatwave.

Increasing climate disasters could drive the EU to revamp its crisis response

While the EU plays an expanding but still limited role in disaster response, climate change effects in the long-term could force the bloc to rethink the management of its capacities, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič told EURACTIV.

France gets help from EU partners as wildfires rage

Firefighting teams and equipment from six EU nations started to arrive in France on Thursday (11 August) to help battle a spate of wildfires, including a fierce blaze in the parched southwest that has forced thousands to evacuate.

Brazil minister renews spat with France over Amazon rain forest

In decidedly undiplomatic language, Brazil's economy minister has renewed a spat with France over deforestation in the Amazon, telling the European nation it is becoming "irrelevant" and risks being told where to stick its criticism.

UK meteorologists, water firms issue warnings as extreme heatwave looms

The UK's meteorological agency on Tuesday (9 August) issued an "amber" warning for extreme heat, while the country's biggest water provider said restrictions loom as Britain braces for another punishing heatwave later this week.

Climate change compensation fight brews ahead of COP27 summit

Tensions are mounting ahead of this year's U.N. climate summit as vulnerable countries ramp up demands for rich countries to pay compensation for losses inflicted on the world’s poorest people by climate change.

Temperatures rise as France tackles its worst drought on record

France on Sunday (7 August) braced for a fourth heatwave this summer as its worst drought on record left parched villages without safe drinking water and farmers warned of a looming milk shortage in the winter.

China halts military, climate dialogue with US over Pelosi Taiwan trip

China announced on Friday (5 August) it was halting dialogue with the United States in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders and on climate change, in a furore over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Firefighters battle out-of-control blaze at Berlin ammunitions dump

More than 100 firefighters battled on Thursday (4 August) to contain a fire that triggered explosions and burned out of control after it broke out at an ammunitions dump in western Berlin, officials said.

Wildfires in Europe burn second-biggest area on record

Wildfires raging through Europe this summer have burned the second-largest area on record, even though the region is only halfway through its typical fire season, according to data from the European Union's Joint Research Centre.

Scholz opens door to extend nuclear as Russia squeezes gas supply

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday (3 August) raised the possibility of keeping nuclear plants going as he accused Russia of blocking the delivery of a key turbine to throttle gas supplies to Europe.

Driest July in memory imperils Europe’s crops

As much of Europe bakes in a third heatwave since June, fears are growing that extreme drought driven by climate change in the continent's breadbasket nations will dent stable crop yields and deepen the cost-of-living crisis.