UN: The world must adapt to heatwaves... and what’s coming is "worse"

SadaNews - The World Meteorological Organization confirmed yesterday, Tuesday, that the world will have to adapt to heatwaves, while parts of Europe are experiencing high temperatures at the beginning of summer.

The United Nations agency stated that people should expect more "severe" and frequent heatwaves in the future due to climate change caused by human activity.

The early heatwave affecting Western and Southern Europe is spreading northward, exposing millions of Europeans to record-high temperatures they have never experienced before. Extreme heat alerts have been issued, which the United Nations described as a "silent killer," on Tuesday in Portugal, Greece, Croatia, and extending to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Claire Nulis, a spokesperson for the organization, pointed out that July is traditionally the hottest month in the northern hemisphere, but recording severe heatwaves at this early time in summer remains exceptional, although not unprecedented.

She added at a press conference in Geneva that extreme heat is "widely referred to as the silent killer," especially since official statistics do not fully reflect the number of deaths caused by it, unlike other climatic phenomena such as hurricanes.

Nulis remarked that "every death due to heat is unnecessary... we have the knowledge, we have the tools, and we can save lives".

She explained that the heat currently being experienced in Europe is due to a sharp high-pressure system. She stated, "This leads to trapping hot air coming from North Africa over the region, which significantly affects what we feel and how we act".

One of the main factors for the heatwave remains the exceptional sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean.

Nulis explained that this is "equivalent to a land heatwave. The Mediterranean Sea is currently experiencing a severe marine heatwave, and this tends to enhance extreme temperatures over the land area".

The World Organization stated that early warnings and coordinated action plans are critical for protecting public safety.

It also noted that "as a result of climate change caused by human activity, extreme temperatures have become more frequent and intense. This is something we need to learn to live with".

She added: "What can we expect in the future? More of what is happening, and worse than it".

Additionally, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies confirmed that its teams have mobilized across the continent to assist people during the heatwaves.

Federation spokesperson Tomaso Della Lunga stated that "volunteers are distributing water and checking on vulnerable groups including the homeless, the elderly, and outdoor workers".

He noted that "extreme heat does not have to be a disaster; knowledge, preparedness, and early action make a difference".