The recent heatwave in the Mediterranean region during July is said to have been “virtually impossible” without the effects of global warming, as identified by a group of climate scientists on Wednesday.
This severe heatwave saw temperatures rise above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in southern Europe and North Africa, where such extreme summer conditions are becoming more frequent.
The intense heat led to more than 20 fatalities in Morocco in a single day, triggered wildfires in Greece and the Balkans, and posed challenges for athletes competing in the Summer Olympic Games across France.
Experts from World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists specializing in analyzing the climate impact on extreme events, stated that the extraordinary temperatures in July were directly linked to human-induced climate change.
Analyzed data for the Mediterranean region, including countries like Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece, showed that July temperatures were up to 3.3 degrees Celsius hotter due to climate change.
In addition to the Mediterranean, Paris also experienced intense heat as temperatures soared into the mid-30s, affecting athletes participating in the Olympic Games.
Climate scientist Friederike Otto, a co-author of the study, emphasized that extremely hot July months are no longer rare occurrences and are expected to happen approximately once a decade in today’s climate.
It has been well-documented that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather patterns, resulting in longer, hotter, and more frequent heatwaves.
The record-breaking global temperatures observed in July further underscore the urgency of addressing climate change, as the past 13 months have been the warmest on record, surpassing the 1.5-degree Celsius limit crucial for averting catastrophic climate impacts.
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