The cause of extreme heat in Europe has been found and it's not El Nino

The extreme heat, which breaks records throughout Western Europe in June, is the result of climate change and human activity. This was stated by scientists from the World Weather Attribution organization (WWA) based on their express analysis.

It is noted that a significant part of Northern, Western and Central Europe is currently experiencing extremely hot and humid weather conditions, in which day and night temperatures significantly exceed seasonal norms. According to WWA, up to 45% of the analyzed cities in 30 European countries have already broken or, according to forecasts, will soon break their historical heat stress highs.

The study shows that even 50 years ago such temperatures would have been almost impossible. At that time, a similar heat wave would have been cooler by three and a half degrees. The main reason for what is happening is global climate change and the resulting temperature rise on the planet and in the oceans.

"The scientific evidence on how climate change exacerbates heat waves is unequivocal. Emissions from fossil fuels are directly to blame for the suffering that people are facing this week in their homes, schools and workplaces," said Theodor Keeping, a researcher of extreme weather events and forest fires, noting that the speed of these changes is seriously alarming, as temperature records in Europe are now updated every few years.

Scientists believe that due to the changing climate, the likelihood of such high temperatures will only increase. It is noted that the current anomaly has nothing to do with the increasing natural phenomenon of El Nino. Europe will fully feel its real impact only next year.

"Scientists like me are already starting to sound like a broken record. Year after year we make the same statements in response to extreme heat, which is reaching new heights," said Fryderika Otto, professor of climatology at Imperial College London.

According to her, all this is the result of climate change and human activity, and not El Nino. The professor noted that there are solutions to the problem, but they are being implemented too slowly.

"Now the only question is what kind of future we want for ourselves and whether we are ready to do everything necessary to ensure it," Otto concluded.

Recall, the countries of Europe were covered by extreme heat, which caused many deaths. Moreover, scientists believe that this year many more people will die from what is happening than before. To understand the situation: during the extreme heat in the summer of 2022, more than 60 thousand deaths related to overheating were recorded on the continent.