About: heatwave

Algeria combats wildfires, observes day of mourning

Blazes raged across northern Algeria on Thursday (12 August) as the country observed a national day of mourning for dozens of people killed in the latest wildfires to sweep the Mediterranean.

EU unveils data-driven climate adaptation strategy, drawing green criticism

More and better data is needed to improve knowledge of how to adapt to climate change, according to the European Commission's new adaptation strategy, which immediately came under fire from green activists for missing binding targets.

Cost-benefit analysis does not work well for wicked problems like climate change

What is the monetary value of being able to breathe in Beijing or New Delhi without discomfort? Beyond the simple numerical challenges, cost-benefit analysis has an inherent ethical blind spot, writes Kevin Noone.

How Europe’s cities prepare for heat waves

The number of cities exposed to extreme temperatures is expected to nearly triple over the next few decades. One solution is to radically change the way we use cars in cities by replacing parking space with "parklets", writes Ross Douglas.

Keeping cool in a warming world is not a ‘luxury’ for the rich

The heatwaves currently experienced in Europe should be a wake-up call to stop ignoring summer domestic energy poverty, writes Yamina Saheb.

Global warming will affect global electricity production

Global warming threatens global electricity production, according to a report released by four organisations on 19 June. As many as 270 power plants could face an increased risk of flooding by 2050. EURACTIV’s partner Le Journal de l’environnement reports.

Climate change affects workers’ health in all business segments, says French agency

Workers from all business segments are and will be affected by climate and environmental changes, with the exception of risks related to noise and artificial radiations, the French Agency for Food, Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) said in a study published 19 April.

Climate change ‘will push European cities towards breaking point’

Major British towns and cities, including Glasgow, Wrexham, Aberdeen and Chester, could be much more severely affected by climate change than previously thought, according to new research. EURACTIV's media partner The Guardian reports.

Scientists see ‘clear evidence’ of climate change behind 2017 heatwave

The record heat observed across Europe this summer was made “at least ten times more likely” because of climate change, scientists have concluded in a new study released on Wednesday (27 September).

Drought threatens CAP payments in the Alps

Low rainfall and a heatwave dubbed "Lucifer" are forcing Italy’s mountain herders to leave Alpine pastures ahead of schedule, forgoing hundreds of thousands of euros in EU funding.

Europe’s dramatic summer gives a foretaste of ‘super heatwaves’ to come

While Europe is recovering from an unusually warm summer, a new study warns that heatwaves with temperatures of above 40°C are expected to become more frequent, with some regions of Eastern Europe hit by new super heatwaves of above 55°C, writes Wendel Trio.

Cost of climate change grows steadily in Europe

Extreme climate events cost Europe €400 billion between 1980 and 2013, a report by the European Environment Agency has found. And the cost is rising. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.

Tackling climate change crucial to EU citizen health

Climate change has a notable impact on health and if steps are not taken, more frequent heatwaves and better conditions for diseases will cause more deaths and cost billions of euros, warns EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis.

El Niño: A silver lining with a large cloud

A report by the Munich Re Group has shown that financial losses from natural catastrophes were lower in 2015 than in 2009. Nevertheless, the number of victims remains high. EURACTIV's partner Tagesspiegel reports.

Heatwaves likely ‘every other year’ by 2030s, says Met Office study

Torrid European summers like the one in 2003 which claimed an estimated 70,000 lives are set to become a regular occurrence within two decades and the “new normal” by the end of the century, according to a new Met Office study.

EU body predicts more extreme weather as floods devastate central Europe

The European Environment Agency today (5 June) predicted a rise in extreme weather events due to climate change as floods caused deaths and widespread property damage in Central Europe.

Evidence linking climate change to extreme weather mounts

The world’s scientists are now more than 90% sure that human-caused global warming will increase the length, frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, the most authoritative scientific report yet on the subject says.

Member states to help fight Greek forest fires

EU countries are sending fire-fighting aircraft to Greece to battle the raging blazes that have killed more than 60 people.

EU eyes fire-fighting service as blazes rage across Europe

The EU is considering setting up a permanent rapid reaction force to deal with the blazing forest fires that are raging throughout Southern Europe, as national fire-fighting resources are stretched to the limit.

Heat wave causing nuclear plant closure

A nuclear power plant in Spain had to be shut down due to rising temperature in the river that fuels its refrigeration system. In France, plants were authorised to discharge cooling waters at above normal temperature as an exceptional measure.

Fire damage: Commission proposes 31.6 million euro for emergency measures

The Commission responded to the request of the Portuguese authorities by offering to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF).

Crop losses of up to 25 per cent due to drought – New Commission measures

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) forecasts high losses for sunflowers and grain maize caused by the drought. The Commission will formally adopt new measures designed to help farmers across Europe deal with the damages.