Extreme heat: five things you should know and how to respond

The European Commission outlines why heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe, and the solutions that can help communities adapt.

Also available in Italian  

The European Commission has published a new article explaining the growing impacts of extreme heat across Europe and the measures needed to protect people and increase climate resilience. Europe is warming faster than any other region in the world and, during the first half of 2026, two major heatwaves affected around 100 million people, with temperatures reaching up to 41°C.

The article highlights five key messages:

• heatwaves are becoming longer, hotter and more frequent due to climate change;
• extreme heat is Europe’s deadliest weather-related hazard, causing more deaths than floods, storms and wildfires combined;
• scientific evidence shows that human activities are driving global warming, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and investing in adaptation can reduce future risks;
• air conditioning can protect people during dangerous heat events but should be combined with energy-efficient buildings, passive cooling and better urban planning;
• trees, parks, green roofs and other nature-based solutions are among the most effective and cost-efficient ways to cool cities and improve climate resilience.

The Commission stresses that while adapting to increasing heatwaves is essential, reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the most effective way to limit future extreme heat.

Read the full European Commission article: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/news-your-voice/news/5-things-you-should-know-about-extreme-heat-and-how-beat-it-2026-07-09_en